Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donation Theft: ₹3 Crore Missing as SIT Investigates Trust Treasurer’s Claims
Indiadailyupdate.com – The Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case has sparked intense scrutiny over the temple’s financial management. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s treasurer, Govind Dev Giri, recently revealed that an estimated ₹3 crore could have been embezzled, raising questions about the discrepancy between police-reported recoveries of ₹79 lakh and the claimed loss. This revelation has prompted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to intensify its probe into the matter, aiming to uncover the exact source of the ₹3 crore figure.
Investigation into Financial Discrepancies
As the SIT delves deeper, investigators are examining whether the alleged ₹3 crore loss is substantiated by audit reports, cash reconciliation statements, CCTV footage, or other evidence. The team is focusing on verifying the trust’s financial records to establish a clear picture of how the funds were misappropriated. The discrepancies in the reported figures have led to calls for a more thorough examination of the temple’s accounting practices, which are central to the ongoing Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft investigation.
Timeline of Key Events
The case gained momentum in April 2026 when Manish Kumar Yadav, one of eight accused, was appointed as a staff member. Shortly after, CCTV footage captured him withdrawing money from donation boxes, allegedly supporting the claim of embezzlement. The police allege that Yadav’s hiring was recommended by his uncle, Ramshankar Yadav, who served as Champat Rai’s former driver and general secretary of the trust. This connection has added layers of complexity to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case, highlighting potential internal links and procedural lapses.
“His recruitment was based on the recommendation of his uncle, Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, former driver of Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.”
The SIT’s preliminary findings suggest that weaknesses in the temple’s security and oversight procedures may have facilitated the theft. These include the lack of frisking at entry and exit points, insufficient supervision of personal items, and the consolidation of cash from multiple donation boxes. Such inefficiencies are now under scrutiny as part of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft probe, which seeks to determine how the stolen funds were diverted and whether the trust’s financial management systems were compromised.
Legal Proceedings and Arrests
Ayodhya police have sought a seven-day remand for Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav to advance their inquiry. In addition, two more suspects—Ramashankar Mishra and retired bank employee Subhash Chandra Srivastava—were apprehended on Wednesday. Srivastava, who had previously managed the temple’s cash-counting operations, is now under interrogation. The court has extended judicial custody for all eight accused by 14 days, enabling further custodial questioning to trace the stolen assets and establish their disposal.
Meanwhile, four other individuals, including Avinash Shukla and Anukalp Mishra, have been questioned during their remand. These inquiries are part of the broader Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft investigation, which aims to uncover the full extent of financial irregularities. The SIT is also exploring whether any other trust officials were complicit in the alleged misappropriation of funds.
To date, approximately ₹78.94 lakh has been recovered from employees, with an additional ₹2.25 lakh reportedly found in the bathroom adjacent to the counting room on June 4, 2026. This partial recovery has not yet reconciled the significant gap between the estimated loss and the amounts recovered, prompting the SIT to prioritize cross-verifying all financial transactions and ensuring transparency in the trust’s operations. The Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case continues to evolve, with the SIT’s findings expected to provide critical insights into the temple’s financial systems and the alleged embezzlement.
