The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has tightened controls over the counting of offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after an alleged theft exposed serious weaknesses in the temple’s donation management system.
New procedures include stronger identity verification, closer surveillance, stricter searches and digital monitoring of personnel entering areas where cash and valuables are handled. Employees engaged in counting donations are being issued QR-enabled identity cards, while access and movement within secure zones are being recorded to establish a clearer chain of responsibility.
The administrative overhaul has, however, caused major disruption. Twenty-three contract employees involved in counting offerings have resigned, leaving the trust with less than half of its previous counting workforce. The departures came as investigators widened their examination of suspected thefts from donation boxes and the temple management reorganised its financial controls.
The employees said working conditions had become more demanding after the new system was introduced. Donation counting, previously conducted in two shifts of about six hours each, was consolidated into a single shift lasting nine to 10 hours. Some workers also alleged reductions in monthly pay, fewer days of leave and unequal wages for employees performing similar duties.
Staff members further complained that the counting process, previously carried out using tables and chairs, had been shifted to the floor. The trust has not publicly accepted all the allegations made by those who resigned, but the scale of the walkout has raised questions about whether the new arrangements can be sustained without recruiting and training additional personnel.
The tighter rules follow a Special Investigation Team examination of suspected pilferage involving employees and individuals with access to the donation collection system. Eight people have been arrested, while investigators are examining dozens of bank accounts linked to the accused and their relatives to trace the movement of allegedly stolen funds.
Cash worth nearly ₹80 lakh has been recovered during the investigation, along with foreign currency, gold and silver ornaments, vehicles and other valuables. Investigators are assessing whether the assets were acquired using money removed from temple offerings.
A preliminary inquiry identified around 70 suspected theft incidents over approximately 40 days. CCTV footage and financial records are being reviewed to determine how cash was allegedly removed, distributed and converted into assets without triggering internal alarms.
Avinash Shukla, an employee associated with donation counting, has been identified as a principal accused. Searches linked to him produced more than ₹20 lakh in cash, $1,121, jewellery, an SUV and other valuables. Investigators are examining whether he coordinated with other employees to remove money during counting operations.
The inquiry also found that Ramashankar Yadav, known as Tinnu, allegedly held keys to donation boxes without documented authorisation. His access has become a central issue because the system was expected to restrict control of donation boxes to designated personnel operating under supervision.
Security failures identified by investigators included inadequate frisking, poor monitoring of CCTV feeds and weak controls over keys and access points. The inquiry found that individuals could allegedly move through sensitive areas without meaningful physical checks or continuous supervision.
The trust has begun separating responsibilities for collecting, transporting, counting and depositing donations. The revised approach is intended to prevent any single employee or group from controlling several stages of the process. Digital attendance, access logs and surveillance records are expected to be matched with counting and deposit documentation.
The scandal has also led to changes in the trust’s senior management. General secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down amid scrutiny of the administrative failures. An interim arrangement has been introduced, and a committee has been tasked with identifying a new chief executive officer.
Investigators have examined whether warnings about the counting staff were overlooked before the alleged theft became public. State Bank of India officials had reportedly raised concerns months earlier about personnel involved in handling offerings, adding to questions over whether preventive action could have been taken sooner.
The Ram temple had received donations totalling about ₹582 crore by March 31, highlighting the scale of the funds managed by the trust and the need for institutional safeguards. Offerings include cash, precious metals, foreign currency and contributions made through digital channels.
