Ram Mandir funds misappropriation case: SIT questions trust employees
What's the story
A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) that began its operation on Monday is probing the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The investigation continued into Tuesday, with SIT questioning employees of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. The trust manages the temple and oversees donation collection and counting processes.
Investigation details
SIT examined entire process of counting donations
The SIT's probe included a detailed examination of the entire process, from how donation boxes are opened to how cash is collected and deposited in banks. The team, led by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, first offered prayers at the Ram temple before inspecting around 40 donation boxes on-site. These boxes are opened daily after temple hours in a designated room monitored by CCTV cameras.
Counting process
Trust has authorized SBI to count cash
The State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized by the trust to count the cash. In turn, a Varanasi-based private firm has been hired by SBI for this purpose. Around 50 employees, including 24 from the private agency and 12 from the trust, are involved in preparing currency bundles under surveillance. Employees of TCS and SBI also count these bundles before they are deposited into the bank.
Security review
SIT scrutinized employee entry and exit records
The SIT also scrutinized employee entry and exit records, security checks, and staff changes in the temple administration over the past year. They examined donation-related documents and CCTV monitoring systems at the temple. During this time, temple administrator Gopal Rao briefly left the premises amid visible tension. The SIT team left around 10:00pm on Monday and has 15 days to submit its report to the government.
Employee detention
Temple trust reported earnings of ₹327 crore last year
The decision to involve a private agency in such a sensitive task has drawn criticism from Akhilesh Yadav, who demanded transparency by releasing CCTV footage of the counting process. Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, the Ram Mandir has received massive donations. Last year, the temple trust reported earnings of nearly ₹327 crore during FY 2024-25, with donations accounting for ₹153 crore.