Missing trail: Why Ram temple donation theft may never be fully quantified
An investigation into the theft of donation funds at the Ram temple in Ayodhya reveals that several accused individuals were volunteers who gained the trust of temple officials. The complexity of the management structure and the involvement of multiple agencies make it nearly impossible to quantify the total amount stolen.
Why it matters
The case highlights significant security and administrative lapses in the management of high-profile religious institutions handling massive public donations.
AYODHYA/LUCKNOW: An exact estimate of the amount stolen from donation boxes of the Ram temple is not only difficult but next to impossible.Sources familiar with the donation theft case told TOI that at least four out of the eight arrested accused who were directly involved in the embezzlement of donation, used to work at the Ram temple much before Sainik Security Services, a private agency hired by the State Bank of India to manage cash, got on board.The four accused – Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey – were roped in along with many other volunteers during the Maha Kumbh 2025 when excess money started landing in the ‘hundis’ of Ram temple.As manpower required for the job was not available immediately with SBI, the Trust officials started identifying volunteers who had delivered positive results while handling important events and programmes in the past.“Anukalp Mishra was involved in…
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