Audit Firm Warned of 'Unprofessional' Management at Ram Temple Trust in 2020, SIT Probe Now Underway
Within months of the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust in February 2020, an audit firm flagged serious management shortcomings, including a lack of “systematic record” of donations. The firm’s November 2020 report recommended drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to improve accountability and data management. However, six years later, those recommendations remain unimplemented, even as the temple committee faces allegations of misappropriation of donations.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its preliminary findings to the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, following complaints about missing jewellery and unaccounted cash donations. The SIT probe comes after reports that the trust received an estimated Rs 3,500 crore in cash donations, along with other valuables.
The audit firm’s report noted that “the layer of management at the execution level is not defined and highly unprofessional,” and warned that “unprofessional staff and data management will lead to dubious information and reporting.” The firm also highlighted the absence of a proper human resources department despite thousands of employees, and stressed the need for qualified staff for bank reconciliation and data entry.
A senior official from the audit firm could not be reached for comment. The Indian Express sent questions to the firm’s accountant, Chandan Rai, and the trust’s general secretary, Champat Rai, but received no response. The trust’s website makes no mention of any SOP, and no internal audit reports are publicly available.
Sources within the trust acknowledged that the “present mess” could have been avoided if management had addressed the audit firm’s concerns. The firm had specifically recommended maintaining a “stock register” for in-kind donations like jewellery, and ensuring a “second and third check” at every transaction point.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was established on February 5, 2020, following the Supreme Court verdict that cleared the way for the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya. The trust manages the temple and its donations. The SIT’s investigation is expected to continue, with further reports awaited.
