Fake Temple Trust Land Grabbing

Reports detail allegations of serious financial irregularities and land scams linked to religious trusts in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. In Karnataka, nine individuals including revenue officials were arrested for allegedly forging government records to grab six acres of land worth over Rs 100 crore belonging to the Sri Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust near Bengaluru. Investigators suspect the accused fabricated family trees, death certificates, and grant certificates to falsely claim ownership under the military quota.

In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, controversies emerged surrounding the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, involving both the alleged embezzlement of temple donations and a questionable land transaction. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probed the alleged theft of donations from the temple counting room, leading to multiple arrests. Additionally, reports revealed that the Trust purchased a 0.645-hectare plot for Rs 23.61 crore from a local seer, despite the district magistrate having previously declared the property as government-owned 'nazul' land that could not be legally bought or sold without explicit permission.

Political figures and opposition parties called for high-level judicial inquiries and forensic audits into the Ram Temple trust's accounts. Amid the outcry, several trust officials, including the general secretary and a trustee, reportedly resigned. Authorities continue to investigate both the forged land records in Karnataka and the donation misappropriation and land deals in Ayodhya.

Not yet reported: The final judicial outcomes and the total financial loss across all alleged scams remain unconfirmed as investigations are ongoing.