Ram Temple, Ayodhya
LUCKNOW: A nine-page preliminary SIT report into the alleged embezzlement of donations to Ayodhya’s Ram temple has flagged senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust functionary Anil Mishra’s alleged failure to enforce safeguards as a costly lapse that enabled the suspects to pilfer funds.The report, a copy of which is with TOI, specifically holds the alleged ineffectiveness of supervision during donation-counting process responsible for the scandal.The preliminary report, submitted to additional chief secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad on June 23, cites nearly 70 instances of alleged pilferage involving six suspects, captured on CCTV footage between April 27 and June 5 this year, as prima facie evidence of theft and criminal misappropriation of donation money.According to the report, Mishra represented the trust in drafting the MoU and SOPs with SBI for managing, counting and securing cash and other valuable offerings by devotees. The SIT report mentions once SOPs were issued, it became Mishra’s responsibility to continuously review implementation and ensure strict compliance with prescribed security protocols.Investigators found despite being allegedly aware of critical gaps in the system, including absence of mandatory frisking and lax enforcement of security measures, no effective corrective action was taken. The report states there was absence of sustained review, supervision of compliance with the SOPs jointly issued by the trust and SBI on Sept 20, 2024, and again on Feb 6, 2025.The SIT also highlighted allegedly serious lapses by Subhash Srivastava, the trust-appointed counting room in charge. According to investigators, all instances of alleged theft and embezzlement occurred inside the counting room, making the failure to conduct regular frisking one of the principal reasons the thefts allegedly continued unchecked. The report holds Srivastava primarily responsible for failing to enforce mandatory security protocols and maintain effective oversight.Another key finding relates to Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, who allegedly retained custody of keys to donation boxes across the temple premises without any formal written authorisation. The SIT termed the arrangement inappropriate and lacking accountability. The report notes that Tinnu allegedly recommended his relative, Manish Yadav, for deployment in the counting team, thereby providing him access to the highly sensitive counting operation.The report also questions effectiveness of CCTV monitoring. The SIT has prima facie named Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ram Shankar Mishra as being involved in offences including theft, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and possession of stolen property.
