Three men arrested in the Ram Temple donation theft case laundered stolen funds through the bank accounts of relatives and associates, police revealed, as investigators widen their scrutiny of the temple’s financial oversight. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has frozen 30 accounts linked to the accused and their families while probing systemic lapses in the State Bank of India’s (SBI) supervision of donation counting.
How the Ram Temple Donation Theft Unfolded
According to police sources, primary accused Anukul Mishra, Luvkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey confessed to siphoning devotees’ offerings by routing cash through intermediaries to obscure the trail. Investigators verified parts of their claims using bank records, leading to the recovery of Rs 79 lakh in cash and jewellery from premises tied to the suspects.
The alleged racket, spanning 40 days, involved nearly 70 instances of theft, with accused workers exploiting weak security measures—such as hiding Rs 500 notes in socks or clothing—to steal small amounts that later escalated. Eight people, including prime accused Avinash Shukla, have been arrested so far.
SBI’s Role Under Scrutiny in Temple Fraud Probe
A preliminary SIT report highlights critical failures in SBI’s oversight, which was tasked with supervising donation counting, ensuring currency machines functioned, and enforcing security protocols. Investigators found multiple safeguards were either poorly implemented or ignored, compromising transparency.
Police are now preparing to question SBI officials and outsourced personnel involved in cash handling, as the probe expands to examine the temple trust’s financial processes and administrative gaps. Sources indicate more recoveries are expected based on fresh disclosures from the accused.
What’s Next in the Investigation
The SIT’s focus has shifted beyond contractual workers to include a broader review of the temple’s donation management system. Authorities are also investigating claims that some accused secured their positions through recommendations from temple trust officials, with the name of Anil Mishra emerging during interrogations.
Readers should watch for updates on potential arrests, further asset recoveries, and the SIT’s final report on systemic vulnerabilities that enabled the alleged thefts.
