An SIT’s preliminary report has alleged repeated cash pilferage during donation counting at Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, identified six accused and highlighted major security failures while recommending reforms.
File Photo: IANS
A preliminary probe into alleged irregularities in the counting of donations at Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple has found signs of systematic cash pilferage, with investigators saying the alleged thefts took place repeatedly over several weeks.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Uttar Pradesh government on the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has named six people with prima facie evidence against them. It has also flagged serious security and supervisory lapses in the donation counting process.
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According to the SIT, CCTV footage recorded between April 27 and June 5, 2026, documented nearly 70 incidents in which counting staff allegedly concealed bundles of currency notes and loose cash inside their clothes, shoes and other personal belongings.
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The probe has identified Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra as having prima facie evidence against them. Police cases have been registered.
The report described the alleged thefts as repeated rather than isolated incidents.
The SIT said several safeguards laid down under the Memorandum of Understanding and the Standard Operating Procedure signed with the State Bank of India were not followed.
Investigators pointed to the absence of frisking at entry and exit points, lack of biometric attendance, failure to count donations hundi-wise, mixing of cash collected from different donation boxes, non-enforcement of dress code rules and the continued use of personal belongings inside the counting area.
The report also flagged unauthorised access to donation box keys, inadequate CCTV monitoring and weak supervision of staff involved in the counting process.
The investigation noted that around Rs 78.94 lakh and other items had already been recovered from the accused before the formal probe commenced. It also said financial analysis revealed bank deposits that were disproportionate to the salaries of some of the employees.
Separately, the ANI report said another Rs 2.25 lakh was allegedly recovered from the counting room on June 4.
Trust officials, including former trustee Dr Anil Mishra and counting in-charge Subhash Srivastava, have been held responsible for supervisory failures identified during the inquiry.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has accepted the resignations of Champat Rai and Dr Anil Mishra on moral grounds and said it is introducing administrative reforms following the preliminary findings.
According to a Trust statement cited by ANI, trustees also decided to remove Gopal Nagarkote from the list of special invitees after reviewing the investigation, media reports and interim administrative arrangements.
The Trust said it had sought an independent investigation from the Uttar Pradesh government after receiving initial information about the alleged irregularities.
The SIT said it did not find prima facie evidence to support social media allegations that valuable offerings, including silver bricks and other items, had disappeared from the temple.
However, investigators recommended strengthening the system for recording and managing valuable offerings.
The probe remains underway, and the SIT is expected to recommend additional measures to improve transparency and tighten security in the donation counting process.
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