A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of irregularities in donations to the Ram Temple said in its preliminary findings that repeated thefts took place inside the temple’s donation counting room due to “serious supervisory failures” and systematic violations of stipulated security protocols.
The preliminary SIT report, accessed by HT, was presented during a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday. The report recommended that criminal cases be registered against six cash counters – all of whom were arrested – while also calling for an investigation into the role of supervisory officials and others responsible for enforcing security measures.
According to the report, CCTV footage available between April 27 and June 5, 2026 captured about 70 instances in which money counting employees were seen concealing bundles of banknotes and loose cash inside their clothes, pockets and shoes. The SIT said the pattern suggested the thefts were “ongoing and recurring” rather than isolated incidents.
Investigators said the actual scale of the alleged embezzlement could be much larger because security camera recordings before April 27 were not available, having been automatically overwritten due to limited storage capacity, according to the report. The report indicated that the defendants’ statements and analysis of their bank transactions indicate the possibility of similar acts occurring even before the available footage period.
The SIT has identified Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra as the six individuals whose involvement in the alleged theft has been prima facie proven through CCTV footage, recovery records and financial evidence. It alleged that while Avinash Shukla and Manish Kumar Yadav were allegedly repeatedly seen hiding money, the remaining accused were allegedly aiding or facilitating the robberies on multiple occasions. All six are behind bars.
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The report also said that before the SIT was constituted, the temple fund had allegedly almost recovered $2.79 crore, along with foreign currencies, jewelery and other valuables, from persons associated with the counting exercise. In addition, $2.25 lakh were allegedly recovered from pigeons adjacent to the counting room on June 4.
Discrepancies in income and bank balance
The Special Court found that there were alleged significant discrepancies between the defendants’ declared income and deposits in their bank accounts. Although the counting staff was making money $20,000 per month (approx $15,000 after deductions), investigators allegedly found unusually large cash deposits, fixed deposits and other financial transactions, indicating that the allegedly looted funds were routed through personal bank accounts and relatives.
The report points out widespread violations of the standard operating procedures (SOP) jointly drawn up by the trust and the State Bank of India to handle donations to temples. It is alleged that mandatory checks were not carried out at entry and exit points, uniforms without pockets were not enforced, personal belongings were not allowed inside the counting room, biometric attendance was ineffective, donations from different Hundi were mixed before counting, records were not kept by caste, and CCTV surveillance was not used as an active deterrent.
Together, these lapses created an environment that enabled the repeated theft of donated funds, the Special Investigation Team said.
The report also raised questions about the role of the Fund’s senior staff. It said Anil Mishra, who allegedly represented the trust in formulating standard operating procedures with the bank, failed to ensure effective implementation of security measures despite knowing that inspection procedures and other safeguards were not followed. The report attributed “higher supervisory responsibility” to him for not initiating corrective action. Mishra has since resigned.
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The court found Subhash Srivastava, who was in charge of the counting room, liable for gross negligence, alleging that he failed to enforce inspection, monitor counting staff or ensure compliance with mandatory security protocols. It also pointed out the role of Ramshankar Yadav alias Tino, who allegedly kept the keys to the donation box without official permission and recommended the appointment of his relative, Manish Kumar Yadav, who was later found to be involved in the theft.
Investigators questioned why the February 2025 revision to the standard operating procedures (SOP) relaxed mandatory inspections by replacing them with “regular/random” checks, noting that even these relaxed provisions had not been implemented.
Poor documentation, inadequate CCTV was flagged before
The report noted that internal audit reports between the years 2022-2023 and 2025-2026 repeatedly pointed to deficiencies in the donation management system, including poor documentation, insufficient CCTV coverage and the need to maintain surveillance footage for 180 days. However, the recommendations were allegedly ignored.
The Special Investigation Team clarified that social media allegations regarding the disappearance of donated silver bricks and other valuable offerings could not be substantiated. After examining credit records and physical verification, I found that the aforementioned donations of silver and other valuables remained accounted for and were officially processed in accordance with documented procedures. Sure enough, the foundation said on Monday that all items and valuables had been recorded in files and accounted for, and offered to show them to people who donated them.
The court explained that its report was preliminary and recommended that criminal cases be registered against the six defendants under provisions relating to theft, criminal breach of trust, criminal embezzlement, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and other related crimes. It also recommended investigation of Subhash Srivastava, Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinu and other supervisory staff on charges of conspiracy, abetment, common intent and gross dereliction of duty which allegedly facilitated the commission of the crimes.
Further investigations into administrative accountability, institutional failures, management of gold and silver offerings and long-term systemic reforms are still underway, and a final report will be submitted after the investigation is completed, the Special Investigation Team said. The state government extended the deadline for SIT to submit final results to July 15.
