The Eastern Voice Correspondent

(Kumari Akanksha)

Ayodhya (U.P). An SIT investigation into alleged donation irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has now expanded to include high-value physical assets. The controversy intensified after former Union Home Secretary S. Lakshminarayanan publicly demanded an official audit and physical verification of a priceless gold-plated Ramcharitmanas worth ₹5 crore, donated by his family in April 2024. Lakshminarayanan raised concerns that the scripture had been quietly moved from the main temple premises.

While the Temple Trust defended the relocation, saying it is logistically impossible to permanently display every high-value offering inside the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), the explanation has further fueled fears of artifact siphoning.

The SIT is now investigating missing gold ornaments under the theory that rogue staff may have immediately melted stolen jewellery into gold biscuits to erase their identities and avoid detection. To determine the exact scale of the alleged theft, the Trust has also sent 944 kg of silver ornaments and bars to the government mint for formal melting and inventory matching.