What started with employees sneaking out a few Rs 500 notes from Ayodhya’s Ram Temple donation-counting centre eventually grew into a theft worth an estimated Rs 2-3 crore
What started with employees sneaking out a few Rs 500 notes from Ayodhya’s Ram Temple donation-counting centre eventually grew into a theft worth an estimated Rs 2-3 crore, according to findings that have emerged from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the embezzlement of devotees’ offerings.
The investigation has revealed how members of the donation-counting staff gradually exploited gaps in CCTV surveillance and weak enforcement of security protocols, moving from pocketing individual currency notes to allegedly taking bundles of cash from one of the country’s most closely watched religious institutions.
How the theft escalated
According to investigators, six employees involved in the donation-counting process began stealing within two to three months of joining the system. During questioning, the accused told investigators that they initially hid one or two Rs 500 notes in their clothes and carried them out of the counting facility.
As the thefts went undetected, their confidence grew. Investigators say the accused gradually progressed from taking individual currency notes to stealing bundles of cash before eventually siphoning off much larger amounts.
According to information gathered during the probe, the accused admitted to collectively stealing approximately Rs 2-3 crore over time.
How CCTV lapses aided theft
The SIT probe has also uncovered significant lapses in monitoring and enforcement inside the donation-counting system. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the accused took advantage of weak monitoring of CCTV cameras installed in the counting area.
Investigators found that the control room was, at times, left unattended, reducing oversight and making it easier for employees to remove cash without immediate detection.
The SIT’s preliminary findings suggest that the alleged theft was not the result of an absence of safeguards but rather a failure to enforce procedures that were already in place.
Detailed SOPs ignored
A detailed framework governing the collection, counting and banking of donations had been established between the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the State Bank of India through a Memorandum of Understanding, Standard Operating Procedures and officially recorded meetings held in 2024 and 2025.
Under these protocols, donation boxes were to be opened only in the presence of authorised representatives. Cash was to be counted separately for each donation box, biometric attendance was mandatory, uniforms were required, personal belongings were prohibited inside the counting room and frisking was to be conducted at both entry and exit points.
However, investigators found that several of these safeguards were either ignored or poorly enforced. One of the most significant findings relates to frisking procedures. According to the SIT, routine and surprise frisking of counting staff, specifically mandated under SOPs issued in February 2025, was not carried out.
Trust-linked recommendations under scanner
The probe has also raised questions about how some of the accused entered the donation-counting system. In its preliminary report, the SIT identified six accused as members of the counting staff engaged through SBI’s outsourced agency. Investigators said all six were appointed through recommendations made by individuals linked to the Trust.
The report specifically highlights the appointment of Manish Kumar Yadav, who was recommended by his uncle, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, who allegedly exercised considerable influence over the donation-counting process.
Cash, jewellery and property purchases
The probe has also traced what investigators describe as the proceeds of the theft. According to the SIT, seven accused used money taken from temple donations to purchase properties in Ayodhya and other locations.
According to sources, around June 4 and 5, authorities recovered approximately Rs 79 lakh in cash and jewellery from premises linked to the accused. Additional cash was also recovered after arrests were made in the case.
Former trust member to be named
Preparations are underway to name former Ram Temple trust member Anil Mishra as an accused in the case. According to sources, his name may be added to the case on the basis of the SIT’s report. Investigators believe that despite having knowledge of the alleged theft, effective steps were not taken to prevent it.
