An SIT probing the Ram temple donation theft casehas held former trustee Anil Mishra responsible for supervisory and administrative lapses. The findings came as the trust accepted the resignations of Mishra and former general secretary Champat Rai, and appointed Krishna Mohan as the interim head.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has held former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust trustee Anil Mishra responsible for serious supervisory and administrative lapses, saying he failed to ensure adequate security safeguards despite repeated warning signs.
According to the SIT’s preliminary report, Mishra oversaw financial matters and cash management, including coordination with the bank on the standard operating procedure (SOP) governing the counting and handling of temple donations. Investigators said he played a key role in framing the SOP and was directly responsible for coordinating cash counting, storage and security arrangements.
The report alleged that Mishra failed to issue effective written instructions to strengthen frisking of staff, deploy adequate security personnel, enforce designated uniforms, prohibit employees from carrying personal belongings into sensitive areas, conduct surprise inspections or introduce a system of daily reporting. The SIT concluded that these omissions weakened the security framework and contributed to the theft.
It further stated that despite receiving information about irregularities, Mishra failed to ensure timely corrective action, making him accountable at the supervisory level for the lapses.
CCTV FOOTAGE REVEALS 70 SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS
The SIT’s findings are based in part on CCTV footage recorded between April 27 and May 6, which captured around 70 instances of employees concealing cash during the counting of offerings.
According to the report, staff members were seen hiding currency notes in pockets, shoes and clothing, tampering with bundles of cash and engaging in other suspicious activities before carrying money out of the counting room. Investigators said the footage suggested the alleged theft was not an isolated incident, but a systematic practice repeated over several days.
The report identified six individuals whose roles were found to be prima facie suspicious during the investigation.
SECURITY PROTOCOLS IGNORED
The SIT report flagged multiple violations of security procedures in the donation-counting process. It found that employees were not being frisked adequately, personal belongings were not effectively restricted and cash from different donation boxes was often counted together.
Investigators said several safeguards prescribed under the SOP were either ignored or implemented only on paper. The report also highlighted deficiencies in record-keeping, CCTV monitoring and overall supervision of the counting process.
According to the SIT, weaknesses in security arrangements, surveillance systems and compliance mechanisms allowed the alleged thefts to go undetected for an extended period.
FINANCIAL TRAIL UNDER THE SCANNER
The SIT probe also uncovered indications of financial transactions and cash deposits disproportionate to the declared incomes of some of the accused.
Investigators have recommended a detailed examination of bank accounts, assets and financial transactions to trace the alleged proceeds of the theft. The report said nearly Rs 78.94 lakh has already been recovered from some of the accused, while an additional Rs 2.25 lakh was recovered from the counting room during the investigation.
So far, eight people, mostly involved in handling and counting donations, have been arrested in the case.
