Will not allow pilferage of offerings: Supreme Court on ‘siphoning’ of donations at Banke Bihari Temple

The Supreme Court has taken a firm stance against the alleged siphoning of donations at the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed that every single penny donated must be deposited directly into the temple's donation boxes or online into the treasury.

The court was presented with a status report by senior advocate Maninder Singh, who provided photographs and a video showing three individuals standing in front of the traditional donation box (golak) collecting money from devotees and placing it in their polythene bags. The court emphasized the urgency of the matter and stated that any obstruction by temple officials or others will be treated seriously.

The management committee of the temple was ordered to introduce a transparent mechanism for managing the temple treasury. The court's decision comes in response to pleas made by the temple management committee regarding the alleged misappropriation of donations.