How chance discovery of Rs 40,000 in loo helped blow lid off Ayodhya Ram temple theft
A theft of donation money at the Ayodhya Ram temple was uncovered after a gatekeeper discovered hidden cash in a washroom. The subsequent investigation led to the recovery of nearly Rs 80 lakh and the arrest of several employees involved in the embezzlement.
Why it matters
The incident highlights internal security vulnerabilities at a major religious site and the effectiveness of rapid police intervention in high-profile corruption cases.
LUCKNOW: While the donation theft at Ram temple has triggered a deep probe and an overhaul of the entire collection process, it was a chance recovery of some cash and an alert guard that blew the lid off the well orchestrated embezzlement of devotees’ faith and money.According to sources associated with the investigation, the breakthrough came sometime in the last week of May when a gatekeeper noticed bundles of currency notes totalling Rs 40,000 concealed in a washroom and alerted a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.The tip-off prompted senior Trust functionary to rush to the temple, following which security officials and other trustees were informed. The discovery led to immediate suspicion that donation money was being diverted from the temple’s counting system.Sources said the Trust initiated a preliminary internal inquiry before formally approaching the police.
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