Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray addresses party workers and students during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the MNS Vidyarthi Sena, in Mumbai on August 1, 2026
| Photo Credit: ANI
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Saturday (August 1, 2026) alleged that donations worth ₹18 crore were being siphoned off every year at the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.
A financially lucrative temple with burgeoning devotees every year, The Siddhivinayak temple, at Prabhadevi, Mumbai reportedly earned a revenue of ₹182 crore in fiscal 2025-26. Mr.Thackeray’s allegation of ₹18 crore amounts to about 10% of the FY2026 revenue.
Even temples are not safe these days, Mr. Thackeray said at a programme he attended where he addressed the party’s student wing, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on this issue. Besides, he alleged, that ₹1,400 crore had also been stolen from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
He further said that some alert trustees caught employees who stole money from the donation box at the Siddhivinayak temple ,reading out a letter written by eight trustees to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
“Every year, ₹18 crore was being stolen,” Mr. Thackeray alleged.
Sada Sarvankar, chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and a leader of the Shiv Sena party led by Eknath Shinde, said that nine employees were arrested in this connection. ”We have filed cases wherever required,” he said. The rise in donations was due to the efforts taken by the trust, Mr. Sarvankar said.
The allegations assume significance when the investigation regarding the donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram temple is under way
Published – August 02, 2026 02:23 pm IST
