Hidden Cameras, No Security Checks And Bank Account Trail: Inside Ram Temple Donation Row
Hidden Cameras, No Security Checks And Bank Account Trail: Inside Ram Temple Donation Row Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 17:16 IST Hidden cameras
Hidden Cameras, No Security Checks And Bank Account Trail: Inside Ram Temple Donation Row Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 17:16 IST Hidden cameras were installed inside the counting room at the Ram Temple after officials suspected some funds are missing. Rapid Read According to police sources, around Rs 10 lakh in cash was recovered from Lav Kush Mishra's residence during the investigation. As many as eight people have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft and embezzlement of devotees’ donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. According to Uttar Pradesh Police sources, the alleged fraud came to light after temple officials noticed discrepancies between the cash collected from donation boxes and the amount being deposited in the bank during the last week of May. Hidden Cameras Installed After Suspicion Police sources said temple authorities became suspicious after observing that while each donation box typically contained around Rs 6–7 lakh, bundles of Rs 500 notes repeatedly appeared to be short of the expected amount. To verify their suspicions, officials installed hidden cameras inside the room where donations were counted, in addition to the existing CCTV surveillance system. According to police sources, footage recorded over nearly a week allegedly showed some employees deliberately positioning themselves in front of the visible CCTV cameras to obstruct their view.
During this time, another employee was allegedly seen removing currency notes from prepared cash bundles and concealing them inside his clothes. The alleged acts were reportedly captured by the hidden cameras. Another Alleged Method of Theft Police sources further claimed that investigators uncovered another alleged method used to siphon off cash. According to the sources, employees preparing cash bundles would intentionally insert extra currency notes into each bundle. When the cash reached the bank, officials allegedly counted only the number of bundles instead of recounting the individual notes before preparing the deposit voucher. Police sources alleged that during the transportation of the cash from the temple to the bank, the extra notes were removed from the bundles. Since the voucher reflected only the number of bundles, the deposited amount allegedly appeared to match the records, while the removed cash was misappropriated. Investigators have said that Anukalp Mishra, who was responsible for preparing donation vouchers, allegedly carried out the manipulation with the assistance of his brother-in-law, Lav Kush Mishra. According to police sources, around Rs 10 lakh in cash was recovered from Lav Kush Mishra’s residence during the investigation. Recruitment Through Personal Connections Police sources also alleged that several employees engaged in the donation counting process had been recruited through personal contacts or recommendations. Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, who had previously worked as the driver of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, was serving as a supervisor and had allegedly arranged for his cousin, Manish Yadav, to join the cash-counting team, they said.
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