The alleged manipulation of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya could have been prevented if an early warning from the State Bank of India (SBI) had been acted upon, according to people familiar with the matter.
The SBI had detected suspicious activities related to employees involved in counting donations nearly three months before the alleged fraud came to light and recommended their removal, a senior bank official told HT.
According to the official, the bank’s management noticed irregularities during the counting process and expressed concerns about the performance of some employees associated with this process.
“The bank noticed suspicious activity and recommended immediate action,” the official said.
The SBI has written to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust recommending removal of the counting staff from service, people familiar with the matter said. The bank reportedly raised questions about the conduct and performance of these employees in its report.
The bank’s warning was allegedly ignored
The sources said that credit officials intervened and protected the employees despite the bank’s recommendation.
Even after the SBI reported the issue and recommended action, no steps were taken and the same staff continued to handle the counting of donations made by devotees at the temple.
Officials are now examining whether the bank’s communications were deliberately ignored, delayed or suppressed and whether any trust employees or officials were involved in preventing action.
Rigging surfaces, 44 employees removed
The issue came to light after allegations of manipulation of the donation account led to an investigation into the handling of offers made by the congregation.
Following this revelation, all 44 employees involved in the screening process were removed from service with immediate effect.
Investigators are now trying to determine the extent of the alleged violations and identify those responsible.
Preliminary findings suggest possible underreporting of donations and fraud during the counting process. However, officials said the exact extent of the alleged fraud will not become clear until the investigation is complete.
SBI is reviewing its own processes
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has outsourced the cash donation tally to the Ayodhya branch of SBI.
SBI deploys a dedicated team to count the funds collected from donation boxes installed inside the temple premises. In the wake of the controversy, the bank also began reviewing its procedures and safeguards related to the screening process.
Officials said the review will examine whether additional checks and monitoring mechanisms are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
What is a donation counting row?
The controversy first came to light after allegations surfaced that donations made by devotees at the Ram temple were tampered with during the counting process.
Subsequent investigations led to the registration of an FIR and the arrest of several accused, including individuals associated with the money counting operation.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage and records relating to cash deposits and the movement of money from donation boxes to counting centers as part of the investigation.
Authorities believe the investigation will determine the exact amount and determine whether the alleged violations are isolated incidents or part of a larger conspiracy.
