Amid the political storm which erupted in the aftermath of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday alleged that as much as Rs 18 crore was being siphoned off annually from the donation collections at the revered Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, in Mumbai, before the alleged malpractice was detected.

Addressing a public event, Thackeray claimed that corruption had even infiltrated places of worship and urged Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to address concerns over the alleged misuse of devotees’ donations.

The political leader’s remarks come at a time when the alleged donation theft at Ayodhya Ram Temple has emerged as a political flashpoint in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session, with both ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition trading sharp accusations.

“Temples are no longer safe”: Thackeray

As reported by news agency PTI, Thackeray alleged that while approximately Rs 1400 crore had allegedly been stolen from the Ayodhya-located Ram Temple, the Mumbai-located Siddhivinayak Temple also suffered large-scale misappropriation of donations in the past.

Expressing concern over corruption at religious places, the MNS chief remarked that even temples were no longer safe.

Further at the event, he referred to a letter written by 8 trustees of the Siddhivinayak Temple, saying that vigilant trustees had unearthed the alleged theft by certain employees responsible for handling donation collections. According to him, the temple’s weekly donation receipts saw a dramatic increase after the alleged theft was detected.

He then alleged, “Every year, Rs 18 crore was being stolen,” adding that the temple’s weekly collections surged from less than Rs 50 lakh to nearly Rs 1.5 crore after corrective measures were implemented.

Siddhivinayak Trust confirms employee arrests

Responding to Thackeray’s allegations, Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Chairman and Shiv Sena leader Sada Sarvankar confirmed that nine employees had been arrested in connection with the donation thefts. He told the media, “We have filed cases wherever required.”

He, however, attributed the substantial rise in the temple’s income not merely to the detection of theft but also to administrative reforms and enhanced management undertaken by the Trust. He said the temple’s annual income has risen from Rs 114 crore two years ago to close to Rs 182 crore at present.

Meanwhile, a probe into the alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple is still underway, with multiple accused already in police custody.