The State Bank of India (SBI) wanted to replace the donation counting staff at the Ram Temple three months before the alleged donation embezzlement scam came to light. The members of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust allegedly stopped this and allowed the employees to continue with their work, bank sources claimed on Monday, according to PTI.
The SBI suspected that someone was withdrawing money from the temple’s donation boxes and recommended the removal of the money counting staff. The outsourcing agency began the process of replacing them, but Trust officials allegedly intervened and prevented their replacement, PTI reported.
SBI reportedly hired workers through an outsourcing agency in exchange for monthly salaries of $100 million $12000 to $15000.
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SBI sources told PTI that several people involved in the temple management, though not members of the Trust, questioned why the bank was using outside staff instead of permanent staff to calculate the temple’s daily donations.
Congress questions confidence
Congress leader Pawan Khera also claimed that the SBI recommended replacing the money counting staff three months ago.
“Three months ago, the SBI recommended the removal of those posted at the counting centre. Who was protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?” Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Chhattisgarh state, Khaira said.
He claimed that the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple was just the beginning. “Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baki hai “The alleged looting in Ayodhya is just a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura are yet to come,” Khaira said.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha member Sibal had criticized the government. Defeat this government! Ram ko lota, desh ko lota, achi din ka nara gotha“(They plundered Lord Ram, they plundered the country, and Achi Din’s promise was false.)
“What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with you? Na dillon ka ho ja patwara; Sab ka desh hai desh donkey“(We will overthrow such a government; together we will unite the country; there will be no division in hearts; this nation belongs to everyone).
Ram temple donation row
The controversy escalated after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 at the request of the trust, conducted a preliminary investigation and found irregularities in the handling of cash and valuables. Based on the findings of the SIT, the police lodged an FIR on June 25.
The police arrested eight accused: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinu Yadav.
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Investigators identified Tinu Yadav as the alleged leader, and said he arranged for his relative and co-accused, Manish Kumar Yadav, to get a job in the temple’s money-counting unit. Tenu Yadav also worked as a driver for Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The investigators have almost recovered $80 lakh in cash and some foreign currencies from six of the eight accused so far. Opposition parties claim that the money donated is worth more than that $Rs 200 crore has been seized by the authorities running the trust.
The forces raided the homes of the eight defendants on Sunday.
The police have booked the accused under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act relating to criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Pressure is mounting on the temple of trust
The arrests also increased pressure on the Temple Trust. Champat Rai has tendered his resignation as general secretary of the trust, while senior functionary Anil Mishra has also offered to step down.
The Bar Association refuses to defend the accused
The Faizabad Bar Association decided that the accused would not be represented in the case by any of its members. After the general body meeting on Monday, association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said: “The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments. All the lawyers… have agreed not to defend the arrested accused.”
The association warned that any lawyer representing the accused would be fined $5 lakh. It also asked Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao to leave Ayodhya within three days, and threatened to blockade the city if they failed to do so.
The Bar Association said it took a similar position in 2005 by refusing to defend those accused in the terrorist attack on the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya.
