India, June 26 -- For centuries, Ayodhya has been the epicentre of faith for many Hindus who believe it to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. After the Supreme Court's landmark 2019 ruling concluded the decades-long Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute and paved the way for the construction of the Ram Temple, the shrine was thrown open to the public in a grand ceremony in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose presence sealed the importance of the place as a religious and a political node.

The recent controversy around irregularities in donations threatens to tarnish the temple's status. After allegations by the Opposition of theft in donations to the temple, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government set up a special investigation team (S...