Ram Temple Donation Theft: SIT Finds Bank Employees Involved, Accused Built House In 3 Months

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ram Temple donation theft case has uncovered shocking details regarding the involvement of bank employees. According to the preliminary investigation, the role of two bank staff members has been highlighted, and the police have gathered solid evidence against them. It's expected that arrests will be made soon as the conspiracy layers continue to unfold. The investigation suggests that the embezzlement of crores of rupees from the offerings wasn't possible solely through the efforts of the counting personnel, while the police and SIT have found that the involvement of the bank employees wasn't just suspicious but active and central to the crime.

Modus Operandi: Human Shields and Record Manipulation

The investigation has revealed that the accused used a specific technique to evade surveillance during the counting process. They would form a physical circle or shield in front of the CCTV cameras to hide their actions while pocketing the cash. If they were unable to remove the money immediately at the spot, they would resort to manipulating the records, while they would intentionally record an amount that was 4 to 5 lakh rupees less than the actual collection in the counting register. Later, while depositing the money in the bank, they would withdraw that specific difference for themselves. This organized method allowed the theft to continue for a significant period without being detected by the standard monitoring systems.

Role of SBI Employees and Police Action

The responsibility for counting and collecting the notes from the donation boxes at the Ram Temple was entrusted to the State Bank of India (SBI). While contractual workers were deployed for the actual counting, the entire process was supposed to be supervised by two bank employees, identified as Ratnesh Chaturvedi and Gagandeep. These two individuals were present at every stage, from the initial counting to the final deposit of the amount in the bank. The Ayodhya police, led by the Circle Officer of Ayodhya, recently conducted a raid at the SBI branch and questioned the staff. Notices have been formally issued to Gagandeep and Ratnesh Chaturvedi as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Rapid Wealth Accumulation and Senior Official Under Scanner

A significant lead in the case involves one of the accused, Lavkush Mishra. Investigators are currently scrutinizing a newly constructed two-story house belonging to him in the Shahadatganj area of Ayodhya. Local residents have reported that this house was built with extraordinary speed, reaching completion in approximately 3 to 4 months. This rapid construction has raised red flags regarding the source of the funds used. Plus, the SIT is also investigating the potential role of a senior bank official. Authorities believe that such a large-scale and organized manipulation of records and theft of donations couldn't have persisted for so long without the knowledge or cooperation of those responsible for oversight. More arrests are anticipated as the investigation delves deeper into the financial trails and administrative lapses.