Who stole from Ram Temple’s donation boxes? The SIT report, explained
The story so far Amid the uproar over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya in the second week of June
The story so far Amid the uproar over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya in the second week of June, the Uttar Pradesh government appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The team — comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General (Lucknow Range) S. Kiran and Special Secretary in the Finance Department Neelratan Kumar — submitted its preliminary report to the State government on June 23, uncovering prima facie evidence of theft and pilferage during donation counting at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Based on the SIT’s findings, the Trust filed a petition for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). What did the SIT report reveal? A large segment of the SIT report, obtained by The Hindu, indicates that investigators were only able to analyse CCTV footage from April 27 to June 5. The footage consistently shows certain counting staff concealing bundles of currency notes and loose cash within their clothing, pockets, shoes and other hidden areas, while other employees appeared to assist or shield such actions. The SIT identified around 70 suspected incidents of theft or pilferage during the period examined.
“We were able to monitor 70 suspected theft or pilferage incidents during the examined timeframe in the CCTV records,” the report states. The report adds that, based on employee testimonies and discrepancies between counted cash and bank deposits, similar incidents may have occurred before 27 April, though the absence of earlier CCTV footage limited the assessment of their extent. The SIT also gathered testimonies from Trust officials, bank staff, security personnel and counting employees, alongside bank records, seizure documents and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). What were the security lapses? The report found that key security measures outlined in the Trust’s SOPs — including frisking, biometric attendance, restrictions on personal items and CCTV monitoring — had not been adequately implemented, creating an environment conducive to theft and pilferage. The SIT also identified procedural weaknesses in the handling of valuable donations, including irregularities in documentation, weighing and sealing processes. Who are the prime accused? Drawing on CCTV footage, recovery records, financial documents and witness statements, the SIT named Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra as having prima facie involvement in the case.
Mr. Shukla and Mr. Yadav were frequently observed removing or hiding cash, while the others were noted for assisting or participating in similar activities. Mr. Yadav’s appointment as counting staff had reportedly come on the recommendation of Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu. What are the next steps? The SIT is expected to conduct a re-audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s accounts for the past five years, following initial findings that pointed to significant anomalies and irregularities. The re-audit is likely to focus on construction-related expenditure as well as jewellery and other gold and silver items received as donations, alongside a broader examination of the Trust’s financial records over the five-year period. The team has already made several visits to Ayodhya and is expected to return to continue the probe. Could there be more to this case? The SIT’s initial findings have triggered a wider debate in Uttar Pradesh. Retired police officers have said that the CCTV footage, covering a limited timeframe, represents merely the tip of the iceberg, given that significantly larger donations were likely received during the Maha Kumbh owing to the high influx of visitors.
The BriefWire