MNS chief Raj Thackeray alleges ₹18 crore annual donation “theft” at Siddhivinayak Temple
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has alleged that significant funds are being siphoned off from the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. Temple authorities have responded by noting that arrests have already been made regarding internal theft.
Why it matters
The allegations highlight concerns regarding the financial transparency and management of high-revenue religious institutions in India.
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.
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