10 July,2026 10:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Eknath Shinde alleges Siddhivinayak donation box loot, seeks action in Ram Temple case (File pic)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the alleged embezzlement of donations to the Ram Temple at Ayodhya has pained devotees but stressed strict action will be taken against those found guilty in the case.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while speaking in the legislative council on the last day of the monsoon session, alleged "looting" of the donation box of Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple in the past and sought to know why no probe was ordered by the government of the day, a reference to the administration led by then-CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiv Sena leader further insisted that no one can support irregularities in handling donations made to the grand Ram Temple, which was inaugurated in January 2024, as per PTI.
Replying to an Opposition-sponsored 'Last Week Motion', he also hit out at rival Shiv Sena (UBT), without naming the party or its chief Uddhav Thackeray, and alleged colleagues of those criticising the funds theft at the Ayodhya shrine committed the "sin of looting" the Siddhivinayak Temple, one of the richest in the country.
Shinde also said, "No one can support what happened in Ram Mandir. Ram Bhakts have been pained. Strong action is being taken. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji and (Uttar Pradesh Yogi ji Adityanath) will not spare anyone."
"Those who are criticising (Ram Temple funds theft)...their colleagues did the sin of looting the donation box of the Siddhivinayak Temple. Why wasn't a probe ordered by the (then) government?" Shinde asked.
The Deputy Chief Minister was apparently referring to Thackeray appointing members to the temple trust, which administers the famous Mumbai shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh, when he was the CM. Eknath Shinde also referred to this issue raised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) then.
After Shinde's statement in the council, noted Marathi actor Adesh Bandekar, who has served as chairman of the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust in the past, said if he is found guilty of any irregularity, he should be hanged in front of the shrine, according to PTI.
Bandekar, who was associated with the united Shiv Sena in the past, said, "It's been three years since my tenure ended. Around four years ago, a similar issue came up during the session of the state legislature. All executive officers are deputed by Mantralaya (state secretariat). If there was any irregularity, then they should have announced it," as cited by PTI.
The actor also said that there has been another chairman of the temple trust for the last three years and feared papers of the board could be tampered with.
Bandekar was re-appointed the trust chairman for a second term in July 2020 by the state government when Thackeray was CM.
(With inputs from PTI)
