A delegation of Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh, led by State unit chief Ajay Rai, offered prayers at the Ram Temple shrine in Ayodhya on Tuesday evening (June 30, 2026). Heavy police force was deployed around the temple since morning amid a face-off between Congress leaders and the local administration.

The late evening development came after hours of talks and allegations of “house arrest” during which delegation members, including Mr. Rai and four Lok Sabha MPs, said they were either stopped on the way to Ayodhya, confined to their homes or detained by the police.

The visit was scheduled in the wake of allegations that donations made at the Ram Temple have been embezzled, sparking a political firestorm. Eight people have been arrested and the U.P. police are continuing to investigate, even as Opposition parties have called for a probe monitored by the Supreme Court.

Impartial investigation is not happening; Ajay Rai

After visiting Hanumangarhi and the temple, Mr. Rai said: “An impartial investigation is not happening. The functionaries of the Ram Temple must be investigated.” He also demanded that the temple trust be dissolved and that Shankaracharyas, seers and Ayodhya residents get a place in it.

Earlier in the day, The U.P. Congress chief said he was “confined alone” in the guest house at Acharya Narendra Dev University and was being subjected to “utter mental torture”. “I am adamant that I will not go without seeing Lord Ram,” Mr. Rai told The Hindu.

The Congress delegation included Mr. Rai and four Lok Sabha MPs from U.P. — Kishori Lal Sharma, Rakesh Rathore, Ujjwal Raman Singh, and Tanuj Punia — who had planned to go to Ayodhya on Tuesday (June 30) to worship Lord Ram.

Congress workers across the State protested against the police action. In Bhadohi, for instance, a protest was held outside the district magistrate’s office and a memorandum was submitted to the U.P. Governor. Protests were also held in Varanasi, Moradabad, Lucknow, and Barabanki.

However, there was no official word on the action against them.

With inputs from PTI

The Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit President Ajay Rai has been placed under house arrest at a hotel in Ayodhya, the opposition party said in a statement on Monday evening (June 29, 2026). This development comes ahead of a high-level party delegation visit to pay obeisance at the Ram temple’s shrine on Tuesday (June 30), amid an ongoing controversy over alleged embezzlement of funds at the temple.

The delegation is expected to be led by the party’s State unit chief Mr. Rai and four other MPs, including Kishori Lal Sharma (Amethi), Rakesh Rathor (Sitapur), Ujjwal Raman Singh (Prayagraj) and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki), according to a statement issued by the Congress.

Former Barabanki MP S P Gautam, former MLC Deepak Singh, former Maharajganj MLA Virendra Chaudhary and former Barabanki MLA Mita Gautam will also be there with the delegation.

The party has informed the local administration about the proposed visit.

“Ayodhya lawyers have made it clear that accused persons like Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao must leave Ayodhya within three days. If this does not happen, Ayodhya will be completely blocked, and no lawyer will fight their case. The people of Ayodhya will no longer tolerate those who indulge in corruption in the name of faith. These individuals, under the protection of power, will now have to answer. We are demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation in the case,” Mr. Rai had told The Hindu earlier in the day.

Mr. Rai’s wife Rina Rai, in a video statement, said: “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.”

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Minister Dayashankar Singh said Opposition leaders do not believe in Lord Ram, have never visited the temple in Ayodhya, taken no part in its construction and yet question people who have given up “family life to serve the nation”.

“These are the people who do not believe in Lord Ram. Some among them do not even accept his existence. They have never gone for Lord Ram’s darshan. Have those criticising ever visited the Ram temple? Have they made any contribution to its construction?” Mr. Singh asked.

With PTI inputs