Ram Mandir trust tightens donation surveillance amid theft probe
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has tightened surveillance over donations at the Ram temple, with every stage of collection and counting now being
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has tightened surveillance over donations at the Ram temple, with every stage of collection and counting now being video graphed. The move is part of transparency measures introduced amid an ongoing probe into the alleged theft of temple offerings. Trustee Mahant Dinendra Das told PTI that the new system has been in place since July 25. He said it covers the entire chain of handling donations, from removing empty boxes from the counting room to transporting, filling, sealing and returning them under continuous camera surveillance. Read Full Story Das said an eight-member monitoring team has been deployed and the process is being recorded through 360-degree cameras.
Around 40 donation boxes installed across the temple premises are now being emptied on different days instead of all at once. "Before a donation box is emptied, the entire process of taking an empty box from the counting room, carrying it to the donation box, placing the offerings in it and returning the sealed box to the counting room is videographed," he said, adding that two professional videographers have been deployed for the purpose. The monitoring team includes two bank employees, two trust representatives, two private security personnel and other designated staff. After the donation-filled box reaches the counting room, officials of the State Bank of India seal it, Das said.
Additional CCTV cameras have also been installed inside the donation counting room. "Now, not even a penny can go missing in Ram Mandir; everything is safe," he said, adding that the trust would continue to improve the arrangements wherever required. "If the administration becomes strict, theft ends on its own," he said. On recent changes within the trust, Das said all decisions taken in the trust meeting would be acceptable to everyone. He also said religious traditions, including the ongoing Jhula Utsav during the holy month of Sawan, would continue as before. The tighter monitoring has come weeks after an alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple triggered a Special Investigation Team probe.
Police have arrested multiple accused in the case and the investigation is underway. The controversy also led to changes within the temple trust, with senior functionaries, including Champat Rai, stepping down as general secretary after the issue came to light. In essence, the trust has introduced round-the-clock visual monitoring of donation handling while the theft case continues to be investigated. Ends With PTI inputs.
The BriefWire