Ayodhya, July 3: Investigators probing the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir have secured what they believe is the first photograph placing two accused inside the temple’s cash counting facility, strengthening the case as the investigation expands to examine surveillance failures and the recruitment of personnel entrusted with handling devotees’ offerings.
The photograph reportedly shows accused Avinash Shukla and Anukalp Mishra inside the room where donations were counted and processed. Investigators consider the image a significant piece of evidence as it places both men at the centre of the cash counting operation.
Police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. Besides Avinash Shukla and Anukalp Mishra, those arrested include Tinnu Yadav, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra and Subhash Srivastava.
According to police sources, the accused allegedly exploited weaknesses in the temple’s surveillance system. Investigators claim the CCTV control room was not effectively monitored during the initial phase, creating an opportunity for cash to be removed without immediate detection.
Investigators have also examined CCTV footage that reportedly shows some of the accused taking money from the counting area. According to sources, the suspects initially attempted to remain outside the cameras’ view but later operated openly after realising that no one was actively monitoring the surveillance feeds.
The investigation has also turned its focus to the recruitment of employees assigned to count temple donations. According to the probe, former Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, who has since resigned, had delegated complete authority over the recruitment of cash-counting staff to trustee Anil Mishra, who is also an accused in the case.
As temple operations expanded following the increase in pilgrim footfall, the Trust recruited 10 employees in March 2025. Investigators said the applicants met Anil Mishra on March 4 after being referred by Champat Rai, received appointment letters on March 6 and subsequently joined duty.
The enquiry has identified several alleged security shortcomings in the recruitment process. Newly appointed staff were initially allowed to enter the temple premises using duty sheets instead of official identity cards. Each employee reportedly received a monthly salary of Rs 18,000 and worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Investigators have further found that cash counting was conducted from two locations within the temple complex after donations increased following the Kumbh pilgrimage. One counting centre functioned from the Pilgrim Facilitation Centre building, while another operated from a police post inside the temple premises. Newly recruited employees were mainly posted at the police post, where they sorted currency notes, prepared bundles and operated counting machines.
Police sources said Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey and Lav Kush Mishra were assigned to the police post counting centre. Following the departure of several staff members, including Swatantra Pandey, Ravindranath, Tarun Malviya and Himanshu Tripathi, Manish Kumar Yadav and Ramashankar Mishra were inducted into the counting team.
The main counting facility in the basement of the Pilgrim Facilitation Centre also housed the CCTV monitoring room, a staff dining area and a State Bank of India counter where counted cash was deposited. Security arrangements included SIS Security personnel and, on certain occasions, CRPF personnel.
Despite these measures, investigators allege that monitoring remained ineffective. Although two or three staff members were assigned to watch CCTV feeds, they were reportedly often absent from the monitoring room, weakening oversight of the counting process. Officials also found that the CCTV display screen was located in the same room where cash was counted.
Retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava, another accused in the case, was responsible for supervising the counting process, including receiving donations from collection boxes, overseeing the counting operation and ensuring the money was handed over to the State Bank of India.
According to sources, investigators have also found that jewellery was never systematically recorded, making theft comparatively easier. Sources further said the alleged theft first surfaced in February after a member of the counting team informed Subhash Srivastava that cash was being stolen during counting. Srivastava allegedly responded, “God is watching, it’s not as if it’s going from your or my house.”
