Ayodhya Temple Priest's Suspicious Death Uncovers Rs 9.5 Crore Fortune

On October 12, 2025, Mahant Ram Milan Das, the 48-year-old head priest of the Rawat Temple in Ayodhya, passed away under mysterious circumstances. Police have now uncovered a massive Rs 9.5 crore in the Mahant's bank account, raising questions about the source of his wealth.

According to the investigation, Rs 8 crore of this fortune was transferred into the Mahant's account just two months ago, when he sold the temple's land in the Ramghat area of Ayodhya. The Rawat Temple, located just 2 kilometers from the Ram Temple complex, was built by devotees from Rawat Bhiti village in Gorakhpur.

Mahant Ram Milan Das had served as the head priest of the Rawat Temple for the past 15 years. On the evening of October 12th, shortly after dinner, the Mahant reportedly began frothing at the mouth. He was rushed to Shri Ram Hospital by his disciples but was declared dead on arrival. While the preliminary postmortem report cited cardiac arrest as the cause of death, the police have launched a detailed investigation given the suspicious circumstances.

Authorities have detained the Mahant's 40-year-old attendant, Shakuntala, who had served him for 13 years. Shakuntala allegedly served the Mahant his evening meal around 7 pm, and soon after, rushed out shouting that foam was coming from his mouth. Hearing her cries, the disciples rushed in and took the Mahant to the hospital, where he was declared dead shortly thereafter.