MNS chief Raj Thackeray alleges ₹18 crore annual donation “theft” at Siddhivinayak Temple

The HinduIndependentProgressive6 hr. ago

Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), accused the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai of annually stealing ₹18 crore from donations, which represents approximately 10% of its total revenue of ₹182 crore in fiscal 2025-26. He also claimed that ₹1,400 crore had been stolen from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Thackeray called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue and highlighted that some employees were caught stealing from the donation box, with a letter from eight trustees presented to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Sada Sarvankar, chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a Shiv Sena leader, stated that nine employees were arrested and that cases were filed where necessary. He attributed the increase in donations to the trust's efforts.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the allegations against the Siddhivinayak Temple and the Ayodhya Ram Temple as systemic corruption, emphasizing the scale of the alleged thefts and calling on national leaders like PM Modi to intervene. While the allegations are presented as factual claims, the emphasis on the 'st

Hindustan TimesIndependentProgressive9 hr. ago

Raj Thackeray, founder of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, alleged that ₹18 crore is stolen annually from donations at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple, similar to claims made regarding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Thackeray cited a letter from temple trustees stating that employees involved in stealing donations were caught, leading to a significant increase in weekly earnings from under ₹50 lakh to ₹1.5 crore. Sada Sarvankar, chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a Shiv Sena leader, stated that nine employees were arrested and that the temple's income rose from ₹114 crore to ₹182 crore. The allegations come amid ongoing controversy over donation theft at religious sites, with opposition MPs staging a 'donation theft' skit in Parliament, prompting legal action against them.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the allegations of donation theft as part of a broader critique of corruption and governance, aligning with left-leaning concerns about systemic issues in religious institutions and government accountability. While the article presents both accusations and responses, the emphasis,