Ram temple theft probe findings revealed
The theft of donations from Ayodhya’s Ram Temple triggered the formation of a Special Investigation Team in Uttar Pradesh after evidence of systematic pilferage emerged during cash counting. The team submitted its preliminary report on June 23, leading the temple’s governing trust to file a formal complaint and launch a criminal investigation.
CCTV footage reveals concealed cash
Investigators based their findings on CCTV recordings from April 27 to June 5. The footage shows counting staff hiding currency bundles in clothing, shoes, and other hidden spots. About 70 incidents of suspected theft were documented during this period, with some employees appearing to assist or cover for those involved.
Discrepancies between counted cash and bank deposits indicate theft likely occurred before April 27, though earlier footage is unavailable. The team also examined bank records, seizure documents, and statements from Trust officials, security personnel, and counting staff.
Security protocols ignored
The investigation revealed routine violations of the temple’s Standard Operating Procedures. Required measures like frisking, biometric attendance, and restrictions on personal items were either poorly enforced or ignored. The report details irregularities in documentation, weighing, and sealing processes that enabled theft.
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Six individuals face suspicion: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra. Footage shows Shukla and Yadav repeatedly removing or hiding cash, while the others allegedly helped. Yadav’s hiring reportedly followed a recommendation from Ram Shankar Yadav, also called Tinnu.
A broader financial probe underway
The team is now preparing a re-audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s accounts spanning five years. The review will examine construction spending, donations of gold and silver, and other financial records after initial anomalies surfaced.
Retired police officers have said that the CCTV footage, covering a limited timeframe, represents merely the tip of the iceberg, given that significantly larger donations were likely received during the Maha Kumbh owing to the high influx of visitors.
Investigators have visited Ayodhya multiple times and plan to return as the probe expands. The final report may change how the temple handles donations, though the full scale of the thefts—and potential accomplices—is still unknown.
