SBI wanted Ram mandir cash-counting staff replaced months before alleged donation scam: Report

The alleged donation embezzlement case linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has taken a fresh turn, with sources in the State Bank of India (SBI) claiming that the bank had sought the replacement of the temple's cash-counting staff nearly three months before the alleged irregularities came to light. According to the sources, SBI suspected that money was being siphoned from the temple's donation boxes and recommended replacing the employees responsible for counting the daily collections. The bank's proposal, however, was allegedly stalled after members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust intervened, allowing the workers to continue, the sources claimed. Earlier, Hindustan Times reported that the outsourcing agency engaged by SBI had initiated the replacement process after the bank flagged its concerns. The move was allegedly halted following intervention by Trust officials. The cash-counting staff had reportedly been hired through an outsourcing agency on monthly salaries ranging between ₹12,000 and ₹15,000. Senior SBI officials also told Hindustan Times that several people associated with the temple's management, though not members of the Trust, had questioned why outsourced workers, rather than permanent bank employees, were being assigned to count the temple's daily donations. The latest claims have intensified the political row surrounding the case. Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that SBI had recommended replacing the cash-counting staff months before the alleged irregularities surfaced. "Three months ago, the SBI had recommended that those posted at the counting centre be removed. Who has been protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?" Khera said while speaking to reporters in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He also said, "Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baki hai (the alleged loot in Ayodhya is only a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura are yet to come)." Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also criticised the government, saying, "Defeat this Government, Ram ko loota, Desh ko loota, Achhe Din ka nara jhootha" (They looted Lord Ram, they looted the country, and the promise of 'Achhe Din' was false). He further added, "Aise shasan ko tordein ge; Mil ke Desh ko jordein ge; Na dilon ka ho ga batwara; Sab ka Desh hai Desh hamara" (We will bring down such a government; together we will unite the country; there will be no division of hearts; this nation belongs to everyone). The controversy escalated after a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, conducted a preliminary inquiry into the handling of cash donations and valuables at the temple. Based on the SIT's findings, police registered an FIR on June 25. Eight people have since been arrested: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. Investigators have identified Tinnu Yadav as the alleged kingpin, alleging that he arranged for his relative, Manish Kumar Yadav, to secure a job in the temple's cash-counting unit. Tinnu Yadav had also worked as the driver of Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Police say they have recovered nearly ₹80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency from six of the eight accused. Opposition parties have alleged that donations worth over ₹200 crore were siphoned off by those managing the Trust. The allegation has not been established in court. The accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The controversy has also put the temple Trust under increased scrutiny. Champat Rai has submitted his resignation as general secretary, while senior functionary Anil Mishra has also offered to step down. Meanwhile, the Faizabad Bar Association has resolved that none of its members will represent the accused. Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said, "The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments. All lawyers...have agreed not to defend the arrested accused." The association also announced a ₹5 lakh fine for any member who appears for the accused and called on Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao to leave Ayodhya within three days, warning of a city blockade if they failed to do so. It said it had taken a similar position in 2005 by refusing to defend those accused in the terrorist attack on the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya. For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. 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