After 8 Arrests, Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Probe Turns To 30 More Employees
After 8 Arrests, Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Probe Turns To 30 More Employees Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 10:11 IST The probe
After 8 Arrests, Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Probe Turns To 30 More Employees Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 10:11 IST The probe has also brought some senior Trust functionaries involved in donation management under scrutiny, though no criminal liability has been established against them so far. Rapid Read The SIT has widened its probe into the alleged donation box theft, with sources claiming investigators have found fresh leads linking the former trustee to the case. (IMAGE: PTI) The investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has expanded, with police now examining the role and backgrounds of around 30 more employees involved in counting cash offerings. This comes after eight people were arrested in connection with the case. According to sources linked to the police investigation, nearly 50 people were engaged in counting currency notes donated by devotees at the temple. Of these, around 40 were allegedly recruited on the recommendations of office-bearers of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust or people associated with them, The Indian Express reported. Investigators are now verifying the backgrounds of these employees and examining whether any of them acquired assets disproportionate to their known sources of income after joining the cash-counting operation.
The probe has also brought some senior Trust functionaries involved in donation management under scrutiny, though no criminal liability has been established against them so far. “This was not merely a case of administrative lapse or an error of judgment, but of deliberate negligence on the part of some people. Sensitive work involving public donations was entrusted through ad-hoc recruitment, with relatives and acquaintances of Trust functionaries finding their way into the system. The backgrounds of all such recruits are being verified, and their financial records are also being examined," a senior police officer in Ayodhya said. Police officials said CCTV footage has provided direct evidence against six of the eight accused arrested. The footage allegedly shows them hiding bundles of currency notes inside their clothes, pockets and shoes while counting donations at the temple’s Pilgrim Facilitation Centre, The Indian Express reported. The alleged theft was detected after discrepancies emerged during donation accounting, following which the temple administration approached the police for an investigation. The Uttar Pradesh government later formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The case also led to the resignations of Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid increased scrutiny over donation handling.
The BriefWire