SIT Reports Major SOP Lapses

Luckily: The alleged misappropriation of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya snowballed into a major controversy after the SIT investigation found loopholes in the shrine’s donation management system and eight people were arrested in connection with the counting of cash and valuables. Here’s a look at what the investigation has found so far:

While details of how and exactly how much of the donations were transferred are still being investigated, the special investigation team (SIT) noted some significant omissions in its preliminary report.

Referring to the findings in the report, sources said Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were violated, such as deputation of security guard during the counting process, searching of staff while entering and exiting the counting room and keeping CCTV footage of the donation counting process for 180 days.

They said that Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, former driver of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Foundation general secretary Champat Rai, was holding the keys of many ‘hundis’ (donation boxes) in violation of the rules.

“A large number of ‘hundis’ were there. So the cash received from these hundis, whose keys were with Tinnu, was apparently scammed due to laxity in implementation of SOPs. The exact modus operandi is still being determined,” said a source.

The SOPs, which were finalized at a meeting attended by foundation officials and State Bank of India representatives, were implemented in 2025 after foundation officials suspected something was wrong with the donation counting process.

Anil Mishra, a prominent member of the temple trust, and Govind Mishra of State Bank of India had officially signed the SOPs.

“The SOPs included a dress code requiring donation counting staff to wear clothes without pockets, deployment of a security guard through the Sainik Security Services (SIS) agency, regular searches of all staff entering and exiting donation counting rooms and random checks. None of these norms were followed,” the source said.

Another major violation uncovered by the SIT was that CCTV footage of the donation counting process was retained for only 45 days instead of the mandatory 180 days.

According to the SIT report, donation counting officer and accused Subhash Srivastava was appointed on the recommendation of one of the three most senior officials of the foundation.

The controversy broke out on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged misappropriation of donations from the Ram temple; this accusation was denied by Rai.

“Nothing noteworthy has been revealed during the ongoing internal audit,” Rai said.

The SIT, set up on June 13 on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s orders to investigate the sensational allegations, appeared to prove Rai wrong. Considering the nature of the findings, sources admitted that a major “overhaul” in the management structure of the Ram temple is in the offing.

They told PTI that it took just six days for the SIT to unearth shocking details about alleged mismanagement, misappropriation of donations, blatant negligence and blatant negligence in managing the temple’s affairs. The findings were part of a preliminary report submitted to the government on June 23.

The Ram temple has witnessed a huge influx of devotees since its grand consecration ceremony on January 22, 2024, especially during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, resulting in a huge collection of cash and valuable offerings.

Following the submission of the SIT report, an FIR was registered in the matter on June 25 and eight accused (Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav) were arrested.

Police said Tinnu Yadav employed his relative and accomplice Manish Kumar Yadav in the money counting unit of the temple.

All eight defendants were remanded into judicial custody until Monday.

According to sources, around Rs 80 lakh in cash along with some foreign currency has been seized so far from six of the eight accused.

“Though the investigation is still ongoing, given the magnitude of the SIT’s preliminary findings, you must have noticed the speed of action followed after the trust was forced to register an FIR,” the source said.

“After the controversy broke out and just before the SIT was formed, Rs 2.5 lakh was seized from the toilet next to the donation counting room,” the source said.

Sources said the revelations were “extremely embarrassing” as those “responsible” for running the foundation remained unaware of the alleged fraud.