Ram Temple Donation Theft: SIT Report Reveals 70 Suspected Pilferage Incidents

The Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has submitted a preliminary report on alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, uncovering prima facie evidence of theft during donation counting. The SIT, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General (Lucknow Range) S. Kiran, and Special Secretary in the Finance Department Neelratan Kumar, submitted its report on June 23. Based on the findings, the Trust filed a petition for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

The SIT report, obtained by The Hindu, indicates that investigators analysed CCTV footage from April 27 to June 5. The footage consistently shows certain counting staff concealing bundles of currency notes and loose cash within their clothing, pockets, shoes, and other hidden areas, while other employees appeared to assist or shield such actions. The SIT identified around 70 suspected incidents of theft or pilferage during the period examined.

“We were able to monitor 70 suspected theft or pilferage incidents during the examined timeframe in the CCTV records,” the report states. The report adds that, based on employee testimonies and discrepancies between counted cash and bank deposits, similar incidents may have occurred before April 27, though the absence of earlier CCTV footage limited the assessment of their extent. The SIT also gathered testimonies from Trust officials, bank staff, security personnel, and counting employees, alongside bank records, seizure documents, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The report found that key security measures outlined in the Trust’s SOPs—including frisking, biometric attendance, restrictions on personal items, and CCTV monitoring—had not been adequately implemented, creating an environment conducive to theft. The SIT also identified procedural weaknesses in the handling of valuable donations, including irregularities in documentation, weighing, and sealing processes.

Drawing on CCTV footage, recovery records, financial documents, and witness statements, the SIT named Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra as having prima facie involvement. Shukla and Yadav were frequently observed removing or hiding cash, while the others were noted for assisting or participating in similar activities. Yadav’s appointment as counting staff had reportedly come on the recommendation of Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu.

The SIT is expected to conduct a re-audit of the Trust’s accounts for the past five years, following initial findings that pointed to significant anomalies. The re-audit is likely to focus on construction-related expenditure as well as jewellery and other gold and silver items received as donations, alongside a broader examination of financial records. The team has already made several visits to Ayodhya and is expected to return to continue the probe.

The SIT’s initial findings have triggered a wider debate in Uttar Pradesh. 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. “If CCTV footage from April 27 to June 5 is accessible, then the evidence available is just a glimpse of a larger organised corruption, as the number of pilgrims during events like the Maha Kumbh is considerably higher,” one officer said.