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

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Ayodhya on Saturday affirmed that the body would ensure a fair investigation into the donation embezzlement matter, also confirming resignation from Champat Rai, General Secretary and Anil Mishra, Trustee.

"We are shocked, hurt, and deeply saddened by the incidents reported over the past few days regarding the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. We are committed to ensuring a fair investigation and reassuring the devotees," it said in a press statement.

Also read: Ram temple donation row: SIT flags security lapses, SOP violations as probe widens


The temple Trust is set to deliberate on this matter in its upcoming meeting. It assured those devotees who personally handed over items—such as silver bricks and jewelry—to Trust officials for offering to Lord Ram that these items are safe and fully accounted for.

"We assure everyone that we will take measures to prevent any such unfortunate situation from arising in the future..." it added.

The statement comes after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath found serious lapses in the shrine's donation management system, with eight people linked to the counting of cash and valuables arrested so far.

SIT unveils blatant SOP violations

The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple has snowballed into a major controversy, with the SIT probe finding lapses in the donation management system and pointing to some major lapses in its preliminary report.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) like deploying a security guard during a counting process, preserving CCTV footage of the donation-counting process for 180 days and frisking of personnel while entering and leaving the counting room were violated, sources told ANI, citing the findings of the report.

The report also revealed that Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, the former driver of the Trust general secretary Champat Rai, held keys to several 'hundis' (donation boxes).

The SIT also uncovered that CCTV footage of the donation counting process was retained for only 45 days instead of the mandated 180 days.

The findings were part of the SIT's preliminary report submitted to the government on June 23.

Also read: Ram temple donation row: Eight accused named in FIR taken into police custody

How did it all start?

The controversy regarding embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple erupted on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made allegations, a charge that was soon dismissed by General Secretary Rai.

"Nothing noteworthy has come to light during the ongoing internal audit," Rai had said.

Later on June 13, CM Yogi Adityanath constituted the SIT to probe the sensational allegations appeared to prove Rai wrong.

Sources told PTI that it took the SIT just six days to uncover the shocking details of alleged mismanagement, donation embezzlement, glaring lapses and blatant neglect in managing the affairs of the Ram temple.

The officials submitted their preliminary report to the state government on June 23.

Following the submission of the SIT report, police registered an FIR in the matter on June 25 and eight accused - Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav - were arrested. All the accused were sent to judicial custody till Monday.

Police revealed that Tinnu Yadav employed his relative and co-accused Manish Kumar Yadav at the temple's cash-counting unit.

Ram Temple donation recovery

Nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash, along with some foreign currency, has been recovered from six of the eight accused so far, according to a PTI report

"Though the probe is still underway, you would have noticed the speed with which action followed after the trust, given the enormity of the SIT's preliminary findings, was forced to register an FIR," a source told the news agency.

"After the controversy broke out and just before the SIT was constituted, Rs 2.5 lakh was recovered from a washroom near the donation counting room," the source added.

The report added the disclosures were "hugely embarrassing" as "those responsible" for managing the trust remained oblivious to the alleged fraud.