SIT Report Reveals Nine Safeguard Failures in Ayodhya Temple Donation Theft
LUCKNOW: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has identified nine critical procedural and security lapses. According to the SIT, these failures collectively enabled a large-scale embezzlement of funds meant for the temple.
The investigation found that the lapses were not isolated but represented a near-total breakdown of safeguards governing the handling and counting of donations. The first line of defence collapsed when counting personnel were not frisked upon entering or leaving the cash-counting hall. Additionally, mandatory pocketless uniforms for counting staff were never enforced, despite regulations requiring them.
Employees were allowed to carry personal belongings into the counting room, a practice explicitly prohibited to prevent the removal of cash or introduction of unauthorised items. Investigators also discovered that cash from various donation boxes (hundis) was mixed before counting, making it impossible to reconcile individual collections.
Further compounding the issues, no denomination-wise inventory, vouchers, or certification records were prepared during counting. This lack of documentation meant there was no verifiable record of currency received, counted, or deposited, rendering subsequent audits ineffective.
The SIT noted that biometric attendance of counting personnel was not effectively implemented, undermining accountability and making it difficult to determine who was present during each counting session. These lapses reinforced one another, effectively dismantling every layer of financial and physical security.
The SIT's findings suggest that the theft was not the result of a single loophole but a systemic failure. The investigation continues as authorities seek to identify those responsible and implement corrective measures to prevent future incidents.
