Ayodhya Donation Row: Accused Admit Duping Devotees With Fake Ram Temple Receipt Books
Ayodhya Donation Row: Accused Admit Duping Devotees With Fake Ram Temple Receipt Books Written By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 12:52 IST Sources said the
Ayodhya Donation Row: Accused Admit Duping Devotees With Fake Ram Temple Receipt Books Written By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 12:52 IST Sources said the accused stopped using the counterfeit receipt books after the Trust shifted to digital online receipts, making it harder to pass off forged receipts as genuine Rapid Read A file photo of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya | Image credit: PTI The Ram Temple donation scam has taken a fresh turn with investigators recovering fake donation receipt books purportedly bearing the name and logo of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, sources told News18 on Wednesday. According to top sources, the accused allegedly confessed during questioning that they not only siphoned off donations meant for the Ram Temple but also fraudulently collected money from devotees by issuing counterfeit donation receipts that closely resembled those issued by the Trust. Investigators have reportedly recovered several fake receipt books carrying the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra logo. Sources said the forged receipts were designed to appear authentic, allowing the accused to convince devotees that their donations were officially reaching the Trust.
ALSO READ | Inside The Money Room: As SIT Probes ‘Fund Theft’, Here’s How Ram Mandir Tracks Every Rupee Donated Among those allegedly involved are Tinnu Yadav, Lav Kush, Karunesh, Anukalp and others, who, according to sources, issued the fake receipts to unsuspecting devotees visiting Ayodhya to make donations for the Ram Temple. The forged documents allegedly gave donors the impression that their contributions had been officially acknowledged by the Trust. Sources further said the accused stopped using the counterfeit receipt books after the Trust phased out its paper receipt system and shifted to digitally generated online receipts, making it harder to pass off forged receipts as genuine. The recovery is being seen as a significant breakthrough in the investigation, with police now examining the seized receipt books to ascertain how many devotees may have been duped and the total amount allegedly collected through the fake receipts. The latest revelations come days after police uncovered that officials related to the temple, including cash counting staff, diverted cash donations made by devotees before they could reach the Trust’s official donation system.
Sources had earlier told News18 that investigators suspected the racket had been functioning for an extended period and may have exploited the massive influx of pilgrims visiting Ayodhya since the consecration of the Ram Temple. Police are also probing whether more people were involved in printing, distributing and using the fake receipt books and whether similar methods were adopted at multiple donation points. Probe Exposes Multiple Security Lapses The recovery of fake receipt books is the latest twist in the widening Ram Temple donation theft probe, which has already uncovered what investigators describe as systematic lapses in the handling of devotees’ offerings. The investigation had also revealed details of the alleged modus operandi adopted by some of the accused. According to police sources cited by News18, the accused allegedly concealed cash in washrooms to avoid immediate detection, attempted to exploit CCTV blind spots and later retrieved the hidden money after completing their shifts. Investigators believe these methods were used repeatedly over several weeks before the embezzlement came to light. Following the thefts, the Trust significantly tightened security around the donation counting process.
The BriefWire