As investigation continues into the alleged donation theft at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered nine major procedural and security failures that it says have enabled the alleged embezzlement of funds. The investigation revealed that the irregularities stemmed from repeated violations of established protocols rather than a single security breach. The findings indicate that several layers of financial oversight and physical security were either ignored or poorly implemented, leaving the donation-counting process vulnerable to manipulation.<h2>What did the SIT find?</h2>The investigators found that employees were not frisked before they entered or exited the cash counting hall in the temple. It was also found that there was no rule mandating a pocketless uniform, which could prevent cash from being concealed during the counting process.The SIT also found that employees were given permission to carry their personal items, including bags, into the counting area despite rules prohibiting such practices. According to the officials, this is believed to have weakened security and increased the risk of unauthorised handling of cash.Regarding the accounting system, &nbsp;the investigation found that money collected from each donation box was not counted separately. Cash from multiple hundis was reportedly mixed together before being processed. This made it impossible to verify collections from individual donation boxes or accurately reconcile records.Another key finding was the absence of detailed documentation during counting. The SIT found no denomination-wise records, vouchers or certification documents to establish how much money had been received, counted and deposited. Without such records, auditing the collections became extremely difficult.The probe also highlighted that attendance of employees was not monitored properly. Biometric verification for counting staff was either not properly implemented or inconsistently followed, making it difficult to determine who was present during individual counting sessions.The SIT concluded that these failures collectively dismantled the safeguards intended to protect temple donations, allowing financial irregularities to go undetected for an extended period.

SIT found nine major lapses in the Ram Temple donation counting system, including weak security, poor documentation, mixed cash counting and lack of staff monitoring, enabling alleged fund embezzlement.

As investigation continues into the alleged donation theft at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered nine major procedural and security failures that it says have enabled the alleged embezzlement of funds. The investigation revealed that the irregularities stemmed from repeated violations of established protocols rather than a single security breach. The findings indicate that several layers of financial oversight and physical security were either ignored or poorly implemented, leaving the donation-counting process vulnerable to manipulation. What did the SIT find? The investigators found that employees were not frisked before they entered or exited the cash counting hall in the temple. It was also found that there was no rule mandating a pocketless uniform, which could prevent cash from being concealed during the counting process. The SIT also found that employees were given permission to carry their personal items, including bags, into the counting area despite rules prohibiting such practices. According to the officials, this is believed to have weakened security and increased the risk of unauthorised handling of cash. Regarding the accounting system, the investigation found that money collected from each donation box was not counted separately. Cash from multiple hundis was reportedly mixed together before being processed. This made it impossible to verify collections from individual donation boxes or accurately reconcile records. Another key finding was the absence of detailed documentation during counting. The SIT found no denomination-wise records, vouchers or certification documents to establish how much money had been received, counted and deposited. Without such records, auditing the collections became extremely difficult. The probe also highlighted that attendance of employees was not monitored properly. Biometric verification for counting staff was either not properly implemented or inconsistently followed, making it difficult to determine who was present during individual counting sessions. The SIT concluded that these failures collectively dismantled the safeguards intended to protect temple donations, allowing financial irregularities to go undetected for an extended period.

SIT found nine major lapses in the Ram Temple donation counting system, including weak security, poor documentation, mixed cash counting and lack of staff monitoring, enabling alleged fund embezzlement.

How did the alleged Ram Temple donation theft happen? SIT points to nine major lapses

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the post of Chief Executive Officer to oversee the operations of the Ayodhya Ram Temple after a committee constituted for the appointment met in the national capital on Friday.&nbsp;According to ANI, citing sources, candidates must be graduates and have at least 20 years of experience in administration or finance. Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience in temple management.&nbsp;The applicant must also be a follower of the Hindu faith.<h2>Three year tenure for the new CEO</h2>Applications for the post can be submitted until July 18. The trust is creating a dedicated email ID to receive applications. After the deadline, the committee will interact with shortlisted candidates before making the final selection.&nbsp;The CEO will be appointed for an initial term of three years and will be required to reside in Ayodhya during the tenure.&nbsp;The committee has also decided to appoint a secretary to assist with the recruitment process. According to sources, the selection is expected to be completed within the next month.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions on July 13 seeking an independent probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.&nbsp;The petitions are listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.&nbsp;Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust, dismissed reports claiming that the trust had blocked the VIP darshan pass IDs of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. He said passes continue to be issued using Champat Rai's ID.&nbsp;"There is no issue as of now. This is still in place. I have no details otherwise; the existing system still continues," he said.&nbsp;Earlier on Thursday, Dinendra Das reiterated his faith in the Uttar Pradesh Police and the state administration after Ayodhya Police began the custodial interrogation of Anukalp Mishra, one of the three main accused in the case.&nbsp;He rejected concerns over the security and management of donations, saying temple operations remain unaffected.&nbsp;"We have faith in Ram Lalla, and the Chief Minister and the administration are fully aware and involved. We have full faith in the police; they are performing their duty. They will catch the thieves in every way and will also punish them," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust has announced eligibility criteria for its Chief Executive Officer post, with applications open until July 18 and the appointment expected to be finalised within a month.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the post of Chief Executive Officer to oversee the operations of the Ayodhya Ram Temple after a committee constituted for the appointment met in the national capital on Friday. According to ANI, citing sources, candidates must be graduates and have at least 20 years of experience in administration or finance. Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience in temple management. The applicant must also be a follower of the Hindu faith. Three year tenure for the new CEO Applications for the post can be submitted until July 18. The trust is creating a dedicated email ID to receive applications. After the deadline, the committee will interact with shortlisted candidates before making the final selection. The CEO will be appointed for an initial term of three years and will be required to reside in Ayodhya during the tenure. The committee has also decided to appoint a secretary to assist with the recruitment process. According to sources, the selection is expected to be completed within the next month. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions on July 13 seeking an independent probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The petitions are listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust, dismissed reports claiming that the trust had blocked the VIP darshan pass IDs of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. He said passes continue to be issued using Champat Rai's ID. "There is no issue as of now. This is still in place. I have no details otherwise; the existing system still continues," he said. Earlier on Thursday, Dinendra Das reiterated his faith in the Uttar Pradesh Police and the state administration after Ayodhya Police began the custodial interrogation of Anukalp Mishra, one of the three main accused in the case. He rejected concerns over the security and management of donations, saying temple operations remain unaffected. "We have faith in Ram Lalla, and the Chief Minister and the administration are fully aware and involved. We have full faith in the police; they are performing their duty. They will catch the thieves in every way and will also punish them," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust has announced eligibility criteria for its Chief Executive Officer post, with applications open until July 18 and the appointment expected to be finalised within a month.

Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust invites applications for CEO post. Here's who can apply

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai on Tuesday broke his silence for the first time since resigning amid the alleged Ram temple donation theft controversy, saying he would respond to all allegations against him only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report.&nbsp;"Since June 7, 2026, various types of discussions/rumors have been going on regarding a theft committed during the counting of the donation box at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple premises. Personally, people have made baseless allegations against me. I have taken a vow of silence," he wrote in the Hindi letter posted on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">धीरज धर्म मित्र अरु नारी, आपद काल परिखिअहिं चारी। <a href="https://t.co/PHtGs95ass">pic.twitter.com/PHtGs95ass</a>&mdash; Champat Rai (@ChampatRaiVHP) <a href="https://x.com/ChampatRaiVHP/status/2074466087694188800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The trust oversees the management of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Rai had played a leading role in the temple's administration even before construction of the shrine began.&nbsp;The controversy erupted after authorities alleged that people involved in counting donations from the temple collection boxes had embezzled crores of rupees. So far, eight people have been arrested in the case, with several accused allegedly found living lifestyles that did not match their known sources of income.&nbsp;Referring to the trust meeting held on July 6, Rai said, "In the meeting of the Temple Trust concluded on July 6, the preliminary report of the SIT (Special Investigation Team) was presented; this report has now become public. I assure all of you that after the final report of the SIT comes out, I will give my response chronologically on all the points."&nbsp;Rai also defended his public life, saying he had been working in Ayodhya since October 1991 after being deputed there by the organisation and had served as a pracharak for 45 years. "Wherever I have served, my life has remained an open book," he wrote.&nbsp;His statement came a day after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust accepted the resignations of Rai and Anil Mishra amid the controversy surrounding the alleged theft of temple donations. The trust said both ceased to be trustees immediately after their resignations were accepted.

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai said he would respond to all allegations chronologically after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report.

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai on Tuesday broke his silence for the first time since resigning amid the alleged Ram temple donation theft controversy, saying he would respond to all allegations against him only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report. "Since June 7, 2026, various types of discussions/rumors have been going on regarding a theft committed during the counting of the donation box at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple premises. Personally, people have made baseless allegations against me. I have taken a vow of silence," he wrote in the Hindi letter posted on X.

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai said he would respond to all allegations chronologically after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report.

'My life has remained an open book': Champat Rai breaks silence with open letter on Ram temple row

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJTK Trust) is an autonomous body constituted by the Government of India on 5 February 2020, following the 2019 Supreme Court Ayodhya verdict. Its decision-making process is governed by the Trust's scheme and trust deed rather than by the Central or Uttar Pradesh governments. In the order titled Neeraj Sharma vs Ministry of Home Affairs passed on 6 June, 2025, the Central Information Commission (CIC) stated that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJBTK) is an independent trust, which is neither owned, controlled, nor financed by the Central government and state government. They also don't release funds to the Trust. The government has no administrative or financial involvement in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Its role was limited to constituting the Trust in line with the Supreme Court's directions. Since the Trust functions independently without financial assistance or administrative control from either the Centre or any state government, it does not fall under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. During proceedings before the Central Information Commission (CIC), counsel for the Trust argued that it was created through a trust deed rather than by a government notification. They also stated that the Trust receives no direct or indirect government funding, while the government's notification merely transferred the rights, title and interests in the acquired land to the Trust. The advocates further submitted that government nominees and the district collector do not have voting rights in the Trust's meetings. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted in line with the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict as an independent body, free from government financial or administrative control. Under the Trust rules, the Settler's role ends once the Trust is formed. As defined under Section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, a trust is a legal arrangement to manage property for beneficiaries.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-temple-trust-appoints-krishna-mohan-as-acting-general-secretary-after-champat-rai-s-resignation-1783347636114">Ram Temple Trust appoints Krishna Mohan as acting general secretary after Champat Rai’s resignation</a><h3>How are key decisions made?</h3>The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees, which discusses and approves major decisions during formal meetings. These decisions include temple construction and infrastructure, appointment or resignation of key office-bearers, financial approvals, management of donations, administrative restructuring, and future development projects. Meanwhile, resolutions are passed during Trust meetings, with trustees exercising voting powers under the Trust's governing rules.&nbsp;Permanent trustees hold the primary decision-making authority&nbsp;According to submissions made by the Ministry of Home Affairs before the Central Information Commission (CIC), all substantive decisions rest with the Trust's permanent trustees. Government nominees and certain ex officio members have limited roles under the Trust deed, while the permanent trustees control internal governance.&nbsp;Decisions are implemented through meetings and resolutions&nbsp;Major administrative actions are approved during Trust meetings. For example, in July 2026, the Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, decided to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and initiated governance reforms after allegations relating to donations. These decisions were collectively approved during a scheduled meeting of the Trust.&nbsp;Financial decisions are approved internally&nbsp;The Trust decides how donations are utilised. It recently disclosed that:&nbsp;<ul><li>Donations received since inception have exceeded Rs 3,200 crore</li><li>More than Rs 2,300 crore had been allocated towards temple construction and capital expenditure</li><li>Financial disclosures and expenditure approvals are made by the Trust during its meetings</li></ul>

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted in line with the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict as an independent body, free from government financial or administrative control.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJTK Trust) is an autonomous body constituted by the Government of India on 5 February 2020, following the 2019 Supreme Court Ayodhya verdict. Its decision-making process is governed by the Trust's scheme and trust deed rather than by the Central or Uttar Pradesh governments. In the order titled Neeraj Sharma vs Ministry of Home Affairs passed on 6 June, 2025, the Central Information Commission (CIC) stated that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJBTK) is an independent trust, which is neither owned, controlled, nor financed by the Central government and state government. They also don't release funds to the Trust. The government has no administrative or financial involvement in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Its role was limited to constituting the Trust in line with the Supreme Court's directions. Since the Trust functions independently without financial assistance or administrative control from either the Centre or any state government, it does not fall under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. During proceedings before the Central Information Commission (CIC), counsel for the Trust argued that it was created through a trust deed rather than by a government notification. They also stated that the Trust receives no direct or indirect government funding, while the government's notification merely transferred the rights, title and interests in the acquired land to the Trust. The advocates further submitted that government nominees and the district collector do not have voting rights in the Trust's meetings. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted in line with the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict as an independent body, free from government financial or administrative control. Under the Trust rules, the Settler's role ends once the Trust is formed. As defined under Section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, a trust is a legal arrangement to manage property for beneficiaries. Also read: Ram Temple Trust appoints Krishna Mohan as acting general secretary after Champat Rai’s resignation How are key decisions made? The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees, which discusses and approves major decisions during formal meetings. These decisions include temple construction and infrastructure, appointment or resignation of key office-bearers, financial approvals, management of donations, administrative restructuring, and future development projects. Meanwhile, resolutions are passed during Trust meetings, with trustees exercising voting powers under the Trust's governing rules. Permanent trustees hold the primary decision-making authority According to submissions made by the Ministry of Home Affairs before the Central Information Commission (CIC), all substantive decisions rest with the Trust's permanent trustees. Government nominees and certain ex officio members have limited roles under the Trust deed, while the permanent trustees control internal governance. Decisions are implemented through meetings and resolutions Major administrative actions are approved during Trust meetings. For example, in July 2026, the Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, decided to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and initiated governance reforms after allegations relating to donations. These decisions were collectively approved during a scheduled meeting of the Trust. Financial decisions are approved internally The Trust decides how donations are utilised. It recently disclosed that: Donations received since inception have exceeded Rs 3,200 crore More than Rs 2,300 crore had been allocated towards temple construction and capital expenditure Financial disclosures and expenditure approvals are made by the Trust during its meetings

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted in line with the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict as an independent body, free from government financial or administrative control.

How is Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust structured and governed?

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How did the alleged Ram Temple donation theft happen? SIT points to nine major lapses

Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust invites applications for CEO post. Here's who can apply

'My life remained open book...': Champat Rai breaks silence on Ram temple row

How Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is structured and governed?