A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of financial irregularities in the donations received by the Ram temple in Ayodhya has uncovered significant violations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) concerning cash handling and security, leading to the arrest of eight individuals.
SIT Report Details SOP Violations in Donation Handling
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the SIT’s preliminary report has identified critical lapses in the donation management system at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. These violations include the absence of security personnel during cash counting, failure to frisk staff entering and exiting counting areas, and insufficient retention of CCTV footage. The investigation was initiated following allegations of embezzlement of donations.
Sources familiar with the SIT’s findings revealed that crucial SOPs, established to ensure transparency and security in the handling of monetary contributions, were seemingly disregarded. These procedures, finalized in 2025 through collaboration between trust officials and representatives from the State Bank of India, were implemented after suspicions arose regarding the donation counting process. Key signatories for these SOPs included Anil Mishra, a prominent member of the temple trust, and Govind Mishra from the State Bank of India.
Among the significant procedural breaches highlighted by the SIT is the alleged involvement of Ramashankar Yadav, formerly the driver for Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Yadav reportedly held keys to numerous donation boxes, known as ‘hundis’. The report suggests that cash collected in these specific ‘hundis’ may have been siphoned off due to a lack of adherence to established protocols. The precise method of embezzlement is still under investigation.
The mandated SOPs stipulated various security and procedural requirements, including a dress code for donation-counting staff to wear clothes without pockets, the mandatory deployment of a guard from the Sainik Security Services (SIS) agency, and regular frisking of all personnel involved in the counting process. Random checks were also part of the protocol. However, the SIT report indicates that none of these norms were consistently followed.
CCTV Footage Retention and Appointment of Accused Highlighted
Further scrutiny by the SIT revealed another major violation: CCTV footage of the donation counting process was retained for only 45 days, falling significantly short of the stipulated 180-day retention period. The report also pointed out that the in-charge of donation counting, Subhash Srivastava, was appointed based on the recommendation of one of the top three functionaries of the trust. This appointment has come under scrutiny in light of the subsequent allegations.
The controversy gained public attention on June 7 when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav publicly alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple. At the time, Champat Rai had dismissed the charges, stating that an internal audit had not revealed any significant issues. However, the SIT, constituted on June 13 by order of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to investigate these serious allegations, appears to have substantiated the claims of mismanagement and financial irregularities.
Sources indicated that the SIT’s preliminary findings, submitted to the government on June 23, were stark enough to suggest a substantial overhaul of the Ram temple management structure. The team reportedly uncovered alarming details of alleged mismanagement, donation embezzlement, and apparent negligence in just six days of investigation.
FIR Registered, Cash and Foreign Currency Recovered
Following the submission of the SIT report, an FIR was registered in connection with the case on June 25. Subsequently, eight individuals were arrested. These include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. Police investigations revealed that Tinnu Yadav had employed his relative, Manish Kumar Yadav, within the temple’s cash-counting unit, adding another layer to the alleged nepotism and irregularities.
All eight accused have been remanded to judicial custody. Authorities have reportedly recovered approximately Rs 80 lakh in cash, along with some foreign currency, from six of the arrested individuals. The investigation is ongoing, but the swift action following the SIT’s preliminary findings underscores the seriousness of the allegations.
In a related development, prior to the SIT’s formation and shortly after the controversy surfaced, an additional Rs 2.5 lakh in cash was discovered in a washroom located near the donation counting room. The disclosures are reportedly considered highly embarrassing for the trust, given that the individuals responsible for managing the temple’s affairs were allegedly unaware of the extent of the purported fraud.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
