Audit Report Exposes 200 Crore Scam in Ayodhya Municipal Corporation

Ayodhya (UP): An audit by the Local Fund Audit Department has uncovered alleged financial irregularities of around 200 crore rupees in the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation, sparking a political storm in Uttar Pradesh. The 2023–24 report cites misuse of state grants, budget manipulation, and payments to a blacklisted firm, resulting in major losses to the state exchequer. Officials said the report has been sent to the Urban Development Department, the accountant general, and senior divisional authorities for action.

Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, a BJP leader, said the corporation would address each objection and punish any guilty officials, while dismissing the charges as politically motivated. The issue gained momentum after Samajwadi Party spokesperson and former minister Pawan Pandey alleged that the questionable spending occurred during preparations for the Ram temple consecration in January 2024. He accused the BJP of turning religious events into vehicles for corruption. Tripathi rejected the claims, saying opposition parties were “unhappy with Ayodhya’s development” and attempting to malign his image.

However, the audit suggests deeper lapses in financial oversight and highlights a pattern of weak accountability in projects tied to religious symbolism. Critics argue that such misuse of funds diverts resources from public welfare, worsening inequality for working-class residents. The revelations have intensified demands for transparency and independent investigation, a test of whether Ayodhya’s development narrative will stand on honest governance or political spectacle.