Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donation Theft: SIT Submits Preliminary Report To CM Yogi

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged irregularities and theft in the offerings and donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Sunday. During this high-level meeting, the SIT submitted its preliminary investigation report to the Chief Minister, detailing the findings of their intensive probe conducted over the last week, while the investigation has drawn significant attention as it involves the management of crores of rupees offered by devotees at the holy shrine.

Details of the Intensive Investigation

The investigation conducted by the SIT lasted for 6 consecutive days, during which the team spent more than 60 hours on the ground in Ayodhya. To get to the bottom of the alleged theft, the SIT questioned more than 150 suspicious individuals. The team meticulously examined the procedures followed for collecting and counting the donations. Now, all eyes are on the evidence gathered by the SIT in this case and the potential legal actions that may follow based on the report submitted to the Chief Minister.

Impact on Temple Donations

A significant impact has been observed on the daily donations received at the temple since the news of the alleged theft broke out, while earlier, on normal days, the donation boxes used to yield between 8 lakh and 12 lakh rupees. However, in the last 5 days, this figure has seen a drastic decline. Only 85 thousand to 95 thousand rupees were collected from the donation boxes during this period. This sharp drop suggests that while the number of devotees remains high, their confidence in the donation management system has been affected.

Devotee Footfall and Trust Issues

Despite the controversy, there has been no decrease in the number of devotees visiting the Ram Mandir. Thousands and lakhs of Ram devotees continue to arrive for darshan every day, just as they did before the allegations surfaced. While their devotion remains steadfast, the trust in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has been severely shaken. Consequently, the counting of money in the donation boxes is now being conducted with much greater vigilance than before, while as in the past, the counting of offerings continues to take place under the direct supervision of Trust member Anil Mishra.

The Donation Counting Process

There are a total of 35 donation boxes installed within the Ram Mandir premises. These boxes are opened twice every day for the counting process. During the counting, 4 employees from the Trust and the bank remain present to ensure transparency and accuracy. The counting work is divided into two shifts to manage the volume of offerings. The first shift commences at 8 AM and continues until 2 PM, while the second shift runs from 2 PM to 8 PM. Approximately 20 people work in each shift to complete the task of counting the cash and other offerings.

Restrictions and Suspects Under Scanner

The counting of donations takes place in the basement of the Passenger Facility Center, located approximately 200 meters away from the Ram Mandir. The cabin of Trust member Anil Mishra is situated right next to the counting room. The SIT has also questioned Anil Mishra as part of its investigation. Currently, the SIT has tightened its grip on 25 individuals who are believed to be under the scanner for potential action. On top of that, officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have been prohibited from leaving the district, while employees whose names have surfaced in connection with the alleged theft are also restricted from leaving Ayodhya as the investigation continues.