The Ram Temple theft trail: Missing donations, CCTV lapses, crores recovered

The investigation has revealed how members of the donation-counting staff gradually exploited gaps in 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.

In Short

• Accused tell cops there were times when the CCTV room was left unattended
• Six employees began stealing just 2-3 months after they were hired
• The theft allegedly grew from one or two Rs 500 notes to several bundles of cash

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.

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. According to the SIT, routine and surprise frisking of counting staff, specifically mandated under SOPs issued in February 2025, was not carried out despite being considered a key transparency measure.

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The probe has also raised questions about how some of the accused entered the donation-counting system.

In its preliminary report, the SIT identified Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra as members of the counting staff engaged through State Bank of India's outsourced agency, Sainik Security Services (SSS).

Investigators said all six were appointed through recommendations made by individuals linked to the Trust, despite safeguards intended to ensure transparency in the handling of donations.

The report specifically highlights the appointment of Manish Kumar Yadav.

According to investigators, Manish was recommended by his uncle, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, who allegedly exercised considerable influence over the donation-counting process.

The SIT said Tinnu directed Manish to submit contractual documents to SBI employee Ratnesh Chaturvedi, following which he joined the counting room on April 15, 2026.

Investigators further stated that CCTV footage from May 11 onwards captured Manish repeatedly stealing donation money.

CASH, JEWELLERY AND PROPERTY PURCHASES

The probe has also traced what investigators describe as the proceeds of the theft.

According to the SIT, seven accused used money taken from temple donations to purchase properties in Ayodhya and other locations.

Investigators are currently examining these transactions as part of the financial trail linked to the case.

According to sources, around June 4 and 5, authorities recovered approximately Rs 79 lakh in cash and jewellery from premises linked to the accused.

Additional cash was also recovered after arrests were made in the case, investigators said.

Officials are now verifying the recovered jewellery.

Authorities said that any jewellery backed by valid purchase records or evidence showing it was received as a gift would be returned to family members.

Items that cannot be satisfactorily accounted for may be treated as stolen property and become part of the criminal proceedings.

SYSTEM FAILURE OR INDIVIDUAL CRIME?

The SIT's findings so far suggest that the scandal was not merely the result of individual acts of theft but also exposed serious shortcomings in the enforcement of safeguards designed to protect devotees' offerings.

Investigators noted that vulnerabilities in the donation-counting process had already been identified in official documents and SOPs, yet several of the prescribed checks — including frisking, monitoring and supervision — were either inconsistently implemented or ignored altogether.

As the investigation continues, the focus is now not only on the employees accused of stealing donations but also on how a system designed with multiple layers of oversight failed to detect the thefts until they had allegedly grown from a few concealed Rs 500 notes into a multi-crore scandal.

- Ends