A preliminary Special Investigation Team (SIT) report into the alleged misappropriation of donations at Ayodhya's Ram temple has identified what it describes as serious supervisory failures by senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust functionary Anil Mishra, alleging that inadequate enforcement of security measures created conditions that allowed funds to be siphoned off.
The nine-page report, reviewed by TOI, attributes the alleged scandal primarily to ineffective oversight of the donation-counting process. It was submitted to additional chief secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad on June 23.
According to the findings, investigators documented nearly 70 alleged incidents of pilferage involving six suspects between April 27 and June 5 this year. The report states that CCTV footage from the period provides prima facie evidence of theft and criminal misappropriation of donation money.
The SIT said Mishra represented the trust in preparing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) with the State Bank of India (SBI) governing the management, counting and safeguarding of cash and other valuable offerings made by devotees. Once the SOPs came into force, the report says, Mishra was responsible for regularly reviewing their implementation and ensuring strict adherence to the prescribed security protocols.
Investigators alleged that despite being aware of major shortcomings, including the absence of mandatory frisking and weak enforcement of security measures, no effective remedial action was taken.
The report further states that there was no sustained review or monitoring of compliance with the SOPs jointly issued by the trust and SBI on September 20, 2024, and again on February 6, 2025.
The SIT also pointed to what it described as significant lapses by Subhash Srivastava, the trust-appointed officer in charge of the counting room. Investigators said every alleged incident of theft and embezzlement took place inside the counting room, making the failure to conduct routine frisking one of the main reasons the alleged thefts continued undetected. The report holds Srivastava primarily responsible for not enforcing mandatory security procedures and for failing to maintain effective oversight.
Another finding concerns Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, who allegedly remained in possession of the keys to donation boxes across the temple premises without any formal written authorisation. The SIT described the arrangement as inappropriate and lacking accountability. It also states that Tinnu allegedly recommended his relative, Manish Yadav, for deployment in the donation-counting team, giving him access to the sensitive counting operation.
The report also raises concerns over the effectiveness of CCTV surveillance. As part of its preliminary findings, the SIT has named Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ram Shankar Mishra as being prima facie involved in offences including theft, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and possession of stolen property.
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