Donation box to bank: Inside Ram temple cash trail

With the registration of an FIR in connection with the alleged theft of donation money received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, questions are being raised about the system put in place by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for handling the cash and jewellery offered by devotees.

Broadly, the task of handling cash donations was carried out in three stages: sangrahan (collection), ganana (counting) and parivahan (transportation), said people familiar with the matter.

Also Read: FIR lodged over Ram Temple donation 'fraud'


Around 40-50 donation boxes are placed in the temple complex. Devotees deposit their cash donations into these boxes. However, those wishing to donate larger or more valuable jewellery have the option of depositing it directly at the office of the trust, which issues receipts after receiving jewellery or other offerings.

"A bank was entrusted with the task of collection, counting and transportation of the donation money. The bank had outsourced an agency to assist in the cash-counting work," said one of the persons, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that this was perhaps the first major deviation from the system put in place by the trust.

There was a fixed time for opening the donation boxes under the close vigil of employees, according to the person. The donation money taken out from each donation box was first kept separately in a secure peti (container). Then, it was brought to the counting hall for counting the cash. At the counting hall, the employees counted the money with the help of machines.

Another person said that CCTV cameras had been installed to closely monitor the cash-counting process. However, questions are now being raised over the alleged inadequate capacity of the CCTV server in the counting hall. "The accounting of cash bundles of various currencies, such as Rs 100 and Rs 500 notes, was also prepared within the temple premises. The allegation is about recording lower voucher amounts than the actual amounts counted," said a third person, indicating a major flaw in the system.

Then, the sealed packets of currency notes were sent to the bank through a van. The donation money was deposited in the account of the trust. The official record of the donation money was prepared at this stage. First, Mahipal Singh, a person who had been earlier associated with the trust, dropped hints about irregularities in the donation money received at the Ram temple.

Also Read: 'Shocked & saddened': Ram Temple Trust vows fair probe into donation row

Then, a BJP leader in Ayodhya, Rajneesh Singh, also raised questions about alleged irregularities in handling the donation money. "On June 9, I wrote a letter to the PMO requesting an independent and high-level probe in this matter. In the letter, I cited reports appearing in local newspapers and social media about the alleged irregularities in the donation money received at Ram temple," Singh told ET on phone from Ayodhya.

On the request of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the state government constituted a three-member special investigating team (SIT) on June 13.

With the beginning of the SIT probe in the matter, the absence of a proper system to appoint the employees involved in counting the cash has come into focus. A key question being raised is how the eight persons accused in the case secured employment with the trust.

Several devotees, who claimed to have donated different articles, stated that they had not been given proper receipts for their donations. "This incident is deeply distressing. The donations offered at the feet of Ram Lalla are a symbol of the devotees' faith. Those found guilty should not be spared under any circumstances," said Veeru Tewari, a local resident.

While the government officials, including the SIT members and policemen investigating the case, remain tight-lipped about the progress in the investigation of the case, Opposition parties have latched onto the issue to target the ruling BJP ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.