Ram Temple Trust Taps SBI for Cash Counting After Theft Allegations, New Team Deployed

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, has introduced a new cash-counting system for offerings collected from donation boxes. The trust has deployed a fresh team and implemented a two-shift process, all under the supervision of the State Bank of India (SBI). This restructuring comes amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of donation theft.

According to temple sources, the cash-counting exercise began on Sunday after a week-long trial. The SBI has been formally assigned the responsibility of counting the money collected from donation boxes installed within the temple premises. Each shift now comprises 10 to 12 personnel, with the first shift running from 8 am to 2 pm and the second from 2 pm to 8 pm.

The trust appointed Shobhnath Mishra as the new in-charge of cash counting. His predecessor, Subhash Shrivastava, was sent to jail in connection with the alleged theft case. To strengthen monitoring, four supervisors—including a former serviceman—have been appointed. Trust security in-charge and former Army officer Captain K.K. Tiwari will serve as the senior in-charge and will submit daily reports on the counting process. Former defence personnel S.P. Dubey and Sheshmani Tiwari have also been named as trust representatives to oversee the exercise.

The alleged embezzlement of donations first came to light in early June. On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. After the SIT submitted a preliminary report on June 23, an FIR was registered on June 25. Eight individuals were arrested: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar Yadav (alias Tinnu Yadav).

During the investigation, police recovered cash from several accused, with the highest recovery of Rs 20.39 lakh from Avinash Shukla. Authorities also seized gold, silver, foreign currency, and a donation box marked 'Ramrajya Kosh.' The new cash-counting measures aim to ensure transparency and restore public trust in the management of donations at the Ram Temple.