Ajay Rai alleges detention before Ayodhya Ram Temple visit amid donation scam row; wife says family unaware of his whereabouts

The political row over the alleged Ram Mandir donation scam intensified on Tuesday after Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged he was detained by police in Ayodhya before visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, with his wife later claiming the family had not been informed of his whereabouts.

The Congress claimed the action was aimed at preventing its leaders from offering prayers at the temple. It accused the Uttar Pradesh government of using police action to stop a religious visit and demanded the immediate release of those detained.

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Congress alleges police detained Ajay Rai after arrival in Ayodhya

In a post on X, Rai said he was taken into custody from his hotel shortly after reaching Ayodhya.

Describing the action as evidence of the BJP government’s “dictatorship”, Rai alleged that the government was trying to stop Congress leaders from visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

“The dictatorship of the BJP government is at its peak! A delegation from the Uttar Pradesh Congress was scheduled to visit Ayodhya today, June 30th, to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Shri Ram. As soon as I arrived in Ayodhya, the BJP government panicked so much that the police arrested me from my hotel and are taking me away in their jeep,” Rai wrote.

भाजपा सरकार की तानाशाही चरम पर है!

​उत्तर प्रदेश कांग्रेस का प्रतिनिधिमंडल कल 30 जून को अयोध्या में प्रभु श्री राम के दर्शन-पूजन के लिए जाने वाला था।

मैं अयोध्या पहुँचा ही था कि भाजपा सरकार इतनी डर गई कि पुलिस मुझे होटल से गिरफ़्तार कर अपनी जीप में बैठाकर ले जा रहीं है।… pic.twitter.com/hjC9eSPy9r

— Ajay Rai🇮🇳 (@kashikirai) June 29, 2026

He also accused the state government of being involved in land-related irregularities and the alleged theft of temple offerings.

“We will neither stop nor bow down!” he said.

Ajay Rai’s wife, Rina Rai, also claimed that the family had not been informed of his whereabouts after he was taken into police custody. In a video statement shared on Ajay Rai’s X account, she accused the BJP government of trying to silence her husband and alleged that party workers were being misled following his detention.

“The BJP government is ready to stoop to any depths to silence my husband’s voice! After being taken away in a police jeep, now our colleagues are being misled with false information. Our fight against the ‘offering thieves’ will continue. If anything happens to my husband, the full responsibility will lie with this unjust BJP government,” she said.

मेरे पति की आवाज़ दबाने के लिए भाजपा सरकार किसी भी हद तक गिरने को तैयार है!

पुलिस जीप में ले जाने के बाद, अब हमारे सहयोगियों को गलत जानकारियां देकर भटकाया जा रहा है।

‘चढ़ावा चोरों’ के खिलाफ हमारी लड़ाई जारी रहेगी। अगर मेरे पति को कुछ भी होता है, तो उसकी पूरी जिम्मेदारी इस… pic.twitter.com/c805MHvzat

— Ajay Rai🇮🇳 (@kashikirai) June 29, 2026

Congress says party leaders prevented from Ram Temple visit

The Uttar Pradesh Congress also alleged that its Pratapgarh district president, Neeraj Tripathi, who was accompanying Rai, was detained by police.

In a separate post on X, the party questioned whether visiting the Ram Temple had become a crime in Uttar Pradesh.

It said Lord Ram belongs to the faith and culture of the entire country and not to any political party. Calling the police action unconstitutional, the party demanded that all detained Congress leaders be released and allowed to visit the temple without obstruction.

Donation scam remains at the centre of political confrontation

The latest political confrontation comes as investigations continue into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

On Monday, a local court in Ayodhya sent all the accused in the alleged donation scam to 14 days of judicial custody. The action followed an investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Police into alleged financial irregularities and the suspected misappropriation of temple donations and offerings.

Family members of the accused later visited the Ayodhya District Jail, where the accused are currently lodged.

The alleged donation scam has fuelled a political battle in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP and Opposition parties exchanging allegations while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its probe.