Ram Temple Fraud: SIT Investigation Reveals Major SOP Lapses and Arrests
A Special Investigation Team has uncovered significant procedural lapses and donation embezzlement at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Following the findings, eight individuals have been arrested, and authorities are now planning a major management overhaul to address the security and administrative failures.
Highlights
- •SIT identifies major SOP lapses at the Ram Temple, including failures in security and CCTV retention.
- •Eight individuals have been arrested following a formal probe into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations.
- •Investigations revealed that unauthorized individuals held keys to donation boxes and influenced hiring processes.
- •Authorities have recovered Rs 80 lakh in cash and foreign currency from the accused during the ongoing probe.
A significant controversy has emerged regarding the Ram Temple in Ayodhya following allegations of donation embezzlement. A dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered serious violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) concerning the management and counting of monetary offerings and valuables at the shrine. These findings have led to the arrest of eight individuals involved in the donation-handling process, marking a critical development in the ongoing investigation.
Investigation Reveals Major SOP Violations
The preliminary report submitted to the government on June 23, 2026, highlights several glaring lapses that facilitated the alleged fraud. Among the identified issues, investigators noted that mandatory security protocols, such as the deployment of guards during the counting process and the routine frisking of personnel entering or exiting the secure rooms, were systematically ignored. Furthermore, the SIT probe discovered that CCTV footage, which is required to be preserved for 180 days, was only retained for 45 days, severely compromising transparency.
Another focal point of the investigation involves Ramashankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, the former driver of Champat Rai, who serves as the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Reports indicate that Tinnu Yadav held keys to several donation boxes, or 'hundis', and reportedly facilitated the employment of his relative, Manish Kumar Yadav, within the cash-counting unit. This internal mismanagement appears to have provided the opportunity for funds to be siphoned off, according to official sources familiar with the inquiry.
Accountability and Future Management
Following the public allegations made on June 7 by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and subsequent government directives, the SIT was constituted on June 13 to conduct a thorough probe. Within just six days, the investigation team unearthed substantial evidence of neglect and mismanagement at the Ram Temple. By June 25, an official FIR was registered, leading to the apprehension of all eight accused, including Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar Yadav.
Authorities have successfully recovered approximately Rs 80 lakh in cash, along with quantities of foreign currency, from six of the detainees. The investigation has caused significant embarrassment to the trust management, as the internal oversight mechanisms failed to detect the fraudulent activities despite the massive volume of donations following the temple's consecration. Given the gravity of these findings, sources suggest that a comprehensive administrative overhaul of the Ram Temple management structure is likely to follow as officials move to restore integrity to the donation processes.
