Ram Temple donation theft case shocks Ayodhya as staff face serious allegations

Ayodhya’s Ram Temple has become the centre of a major controversy after reports of theft from the temple’s donation boxes, also known as daan peti. According to sources, five to six employees are under suspicion for allegedly stealing large amounts of money collected from devotees. The matter has now become serious, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started a detailed investigation.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is one of the most important religious places in India. Every day, thousands of devotees visit the temple and offer cash donations as a symbol of faith and devotion. These donations are placed in boxes installed across the temple complex. Because of the large number of visitors, the amount collected is often very high.

Now, reports of theft from these donation boxes have shocked both the temple trust and devotees across the country.

Theft inside the temple

According to sources, temple trust officials found unusual activities during the counting of donation money. Suspicion grew after CCTV camera footage reportedly showed some employees removing cash from the donation boxes.

This discovery raised serious concerns because the donations are meant for temple development, religious work, and public welfare. Trust officials were reportedly keeping an eye on the matter for some time before the case became public.

Sources say around five to six employees may have been involved in the theft. It is believed they were taking out money secretly while the counting process was going on.

At present, the temple has around 40 donation boxes. When the temple first opened, there were only around 10 boxes. With the rise in visitors, the number of boxes increased, and so did the amount of donations.

Nearly 50 employees are part of the donation counting system. Their work includes collecting cash, counting it, and keeping records under the supervision of temple authorities.

This large system is now under strict review after the theft allegations.

Officials believe the accused may have taken away huge amounts over time. So far, around ₹2 crore in cash has reportedly been recovered from five employees linked to the case.

This recovery has made the matter even more serious, as investigators are now trying to find out how long this theft had been happening.

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SIT begins deep investigation

After the issue came into public attention, the Uttar Pradesh government quickly formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. The government has asked the SIT to submit its report within 15 days.

The SIT has been visiting the Ram Temple premises and collecting evidence. For two days in a row, investigators questioned temple staff and checked records.

On Monday alone, more than 42 employees were questioned. Members of the temple trust are also being asked about the donation system and security measures.

Investigators are not only focusing on the theft itself but also on the financial activities of the suspects. They are checking bank accounts, land purchases, and any recent expensive investments.

The main question now is how long this alleged stealing has been going on. Sources say this is still not clear.

One name that has come up during the investigation is Ram Shankar, also known as Tinnu Yadav. His role is said to be suspicious, according to sources.

However, Tinnu Yadav has denied all allegations. He said he was not involved in counting donations at all.

Speaking to the media, he explained that his job was only related to temple maintenance. According to him, he looked after cleaning work, water arrangements, and installing fans inside the temple.

He said the SIT is doing its work and the truth will come out soon. He also said that anyone found guilty should be punished.

When asked about his property and assets, Tinnu said he had bought land in 2008 and later built a hostel. He added that he used to run tempos and worked as a driver earlier.

The temple trust has not yet officially filed a police complaint, which has also raised questions. Some reports suggest that the trust may have been carrying out its own internal investigation before the issue became public.

For devotees, this news has been disappointing. Many people donate money at the Ram Temple believing it will be used for religious and social work. Learning that some of this money may have been stolen has hurt their faith.

Security at the temple is now expected to become stricter. Experts say better monitoring systems and stronger financial checks may be introduced to stop such incidents in the future.

This case has also started a wider discussion about transparency in religious institutions. Many believe there should be clear systems for handling donations, especially at big temples where large amounts of money are collected daily.

As the SIT investigation continues, everyone is waiting for answers. The final report will reveal how much money was stolen, who was involved, and whether there were any bigger networks behind the theft.

For now, the Ram Temple donation row remains one of the biggest controversies in Ayodhya, and the truth is expected to come out in the coming days.