DonationProbe – Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Investigation Broadens as Police Expand Inquiry
DonationProbe – The investigation into the alleged misuse of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has moved into a more significant stage, with authorities indicating that additional arrests may follow. While eight individuals remain in judicial custody, investigators are now examining whether others connected to the donation management system played any role in the suspected financial irregularities.
Senior Trust Officials Provide Information to Investigators
As part of the ongoing inquiry, police questioned Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra to better understand the temple’s donation handling process. Officials sought information about how the accused were appointed, the responsibilities assigned to them, and the procedures followed for collecting, counting, and depositing cash and valuables donated by devotees.
Investigators clarified that both trust officials were questioned as part of fact-finding efforts and have not been named as accused in the case. Their statements are expected to help authorities reconstruct the administrative structure and identify who supervised different stages of the donation management system.
Investigation Focuses on Entire Cash Handling Chain
According to police officials, the Special Investigation Team believes the suspected diversion of donations may have occurred before the funds reached the temple’s designated bank accounts. Investigators are therefore reviewing every stage of the process, including collection, counting, transportation, and final deposit of donations.
Police also questioned arrested accused Avinash Shukla inside jail after receiving court approval. During the interrogation, officers examined the role of the private agency responsible for providing manpower for counting donations and transporting cash to the State Bank of India branch at Naya Ghat. Authorities indicated that another arrest may take place as the investigation progresses.
Questions Raised Over Recruitment Process
Investigators are also reviewing how employees responsible for handling temple donations were selected and deployed. Officials are trying to establish whether any recommendations influenced appointments and whether adequate oversight existed over donation boxes, counting operations, and movement of valuables collected from devotees.
Both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had earlier submitted their resignations to the Trust after the FIR was registered on June 25. However, the Trust has not yet announced a final decision regarding their resignations.
Private Security Agency Under Examination
A major aspect of the investigation involves a Varanasi-based manpower provider, Sainik Security Services. Authorities are examining its role after reports indicated that six of the eight arrested individuals were employed through the agency for donation counting duties.
The agency’s director stated that the company had no direct agreement with the temple trust and was engaged only by the State Bank of India to provide personnel. According to the agency, the local SBI branch recommended the names of 19 workers who were later absorbed into the company’s workforce before being assigned to cash-counting operations. Each employee reportedly received a monthly salary of approximately Rs 20,000.
Banking Procedures Also Under Review
The investigation has also drawn attention to the operational role of the State Bank of India in managing temple donations. Officials said the Trust had assigned SBI the responsibility of ensuring that collected donations were deposited into the designated account, while the bank outsourced cash counting and transportation to a private manpower agency.
SBI has stated that it has been providing banking services to the Trust since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January 2024 and is fully cooperating with investigators. Meanwhile, reports suggesting that certain individuals may have influenced the selection of personnel for cash-counting duties are also being examined as part of the broader inquiry.
How the Case Developed
The controversy began on June 7 after allegations surfaced claiming that several crores of rupees donated by devotees had been misappropriated. In response, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requested an official investigation.
The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently formed a three-member Special Investigation Team, which conducted a preliminary inquiry between June 15 and June 20. The inquiry reportedly found initial evidence pointing to irregularities in the handling of donations and suggested that a portion of the offerings may have been diverted before reaching the Trust’s bank accounts.
Following these findings, an FIR was registered on June 25 under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The eight accused were arrested the following day, and searches conducted at their residences resulted in the recovery of Rs 79.85 lakh in cash.
With investigators now reviewing the functioning of the private manpower agency, the banking arrangements, recruitment procedures, and administrative supervision within the donation management system, the scope of the investigation has widened considerably, and officials say further developments are expected as the probe continues