The investigation into the donation theft at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has revealed startling details suggesting that the financial irregularities could have been halted as early as January. It has come to light that the trust members had suspected foul play regarding the offerings six months before the official crackdown in June. A Chartered Accountant (CA) responsible for auditing the temple's accounts had flagged a significant and sudden decline in the donation amounts towards the end of the previous year.
The CA's Early Warning and Audit Discrepancies
The audit conducted by the CA highlighted several red flags that pointed towards systemic leakage. According to the reports provided to the trust members, there was a complete lack of coordination between the donation vouchers and the actual receipts. One of the most concerning findings was that the accounts for expenditures exceeding 5 lakh couldn't be traced or verified. This discrepancy prompted the CA to alert the trust members about the potential theft occurring within the counting process.
Recommendations to General Secretary Champat Rai
Following the CA's briefing, a formal letter was sent to the General Secretary of the trust, Champat Rai. The communication included several urgent suggestions to safeguard the temple's treasury. It was recommended that a thorough investigation of all accounts be conducted immediately. On top of that, the appointment of a dedicated Department Head to oversee the management of donations was proposed to ensure accountability, while the letter also emphasized the need for a specialized individual to manage foreign currency donations, as their entries weren't being recorded correctly in the system.
Security Protocols and Administrative Lapses
The suggestions extended to the operational level of the counting room. Champat Rai was advised to strictly enforce the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) regarding the dress code and frisking of the staff involved in counting the notes. On top of that, the letter raised concerns about the arbitrary awarding of contracts for temple work, suggesting that a proper tender process with competitive quotations should be implemented. However, reports indicate that Champat Rai took offense at these suggestions. Instead of appointing a new head or implementing the reforms, he allegedly began complaining about the feedback, resulting in a five-month delay where no new systems were established.
The Spy Camera Operation and Catching the Thieves
The suspicion of theft intensified in May when the donation amounts saw a further decline. Driven by the persistence of a powerful figure within the trust, a spy camera was secretly installed inside the counting center. The existence of this camera was known only to a select few members of the trust and was hidden from the staff counting the notes. After 24 hours of continuous recording, the truth was captured on film. The footage showed individuals stuffing currency notes into their pockets during the counting process. While the case officially came to the trust's attention between 6 and 7 June, it's noted that Champat Rai had already begun efforts to recover the stolen money from the culprits after witnessing the theft.
Recovery from Avinash Shukla and Viral Evidence
In the ongoing investigation, the Ayodhya police are seeking the remand of the accused, Avinash Shukla. An application has been filed in court to take him into custody for further interrogation. A significant recovery has already been made from Shukla's yoga center, where a metal box labeled Ramrajya Kosh was discovered. So far, more than 80 lakh has been recovered from the suspects, with the largest portion, amounting to 20 lakh cash, found with Avinash Shukla. Adding to the evidence, a video of Avinash's brother has gone viral, showing him posing with large bundles of cash. Although the video is reportedly from August 2025, it has raised serious questions about how a person earning 20 thousand a month could possess such vast amounts of wealth. The police have been granted a 24-hour custody remand for Avinash Shukla to probe deeper into the theft network.