The Ram Temple theft trail: Missing donations, CCTV lapses, crores recovered
What started with employees sneaking out a few Rs 500 notes from Ayodhya's Ram Temple donation-counting centre eventually grew into a theft worth an estimated
What started with employees sneaking out a few Rs 500 notes from Ayodhya's Ram Temple donation-counting centre eventually grew into a theft worth an estimated Rs 2-3 crore, according to findings that have emerged from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings. The investigation has revealed how members of the donation-counting staff gradually exploited gaps in CCTV surveillance and weak enforcement of security protocols, moving from pocketing individual currency notes to allegedly taking bundles of cash from one of the country's most closely watched religious institutions. Read Full Story The case came to light after irregularities were detected in the temple's donation-counting system, triggering an investigation that has since led to multiple arrests, cash recoveries and scrutiny of the processes governing the handling of donations at the Ram Temple. According to investigators, six employees involved in the donation-counting process began stealing within two to three months of joining the system. During questioning, the accused told investigators that they initially hid one or two Rs 500 notes in their clothes and carried them out of the counting facility. As the thefts went undetected, their confidence grew. Investigators say the accused gradually progressed from taking individual currency notes to stealing bundles of cash before eventually siphoning off much larger amounts from devotees' offerings. According to information gathered during the probe, the accused admitted to collectively stealing approximately Rs 2-3 crore over time.
HOW CCTV LAPSES AIDED THEFT The SIT probe has also uncovered significant lapses in monitoring and enforcement inside the donation-counting system. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the accused took advantage of weak monitoring of CCTV cameras installed in the counting area. Investigators found that the control room was, at times, left unattended, reducing oversight and making it easier for employees to remove cash without immediate detection. The SIT's preliminary findings suggest that the alleged theft was not the result of an absence of safeguards but rather a failure to enforce procedures that were already in place. A detailed framework governing the collection, counting and banking of donations had been established between the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the State Bank of India (SBI) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and officially recorded meetings held in 2024 and 2025. Under these protocols, donation boxes were to be opened only in the presence of authorised representatives of both the Trust and SBI. Cash was to be counted separately for each donation box, biometric attendance was mandatory, uniforms were required, personal belongings were prohibited inside the counting room and frisking was to be conducted at both entry and exit points. The SOPs also mandated CCTV monitoring, daily reporting and regular maintenance of records. However, investigators found that several of these safeguards were either ignored or poorly enforced. One of the most significant findings relates to frisking procedures.
The BriefWire