Raj Thackeray Alleges ₹18 Crore Annual Theft at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has alleged that ₹18 crore in donations is stolen every year from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple. The claim, which amounts to about 10% of the temple's projected revenue for the 2025-26 financial year, was made by Thackeray in a public statement. Thackeray also referenced the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying that ₹1,400 crore had been stolen there. He remarked that temples are not safe these days, suggesting a pattern of financial mismanagement at religious sites. The Siddhivinayak Temple, one of Mumbai's most visited and wealthiest shrines, collects significant donations from devotees. Thackeray's allegation has not yet been formally responded to by temple authorities or the state government. The two reports on the matter agree on the core facts: Thackeray's specific claim of ₹18 crore in annual theft at Siddhivinayak, and his broader comment about the Ayodhya temple. The revenue figure for Siddhivinayak was reported by The Hindu, while the Ayodhya remark was carried by Hindustan Times. No official investigation has been announced so far.