SBI sought to replace Ram Temple’s cash-counting staff months ago, Trust refused: Report
SBI Attempted to Replace Ram Temple Cash-Counting Staff Months Before Scandal: Report
SBI sought to replace Ram Temple - According to a report by PTI, the State Bank of India (SBI) proposed replacing the staff responsible for counting donations at the Ram Temple three months prior to the revelation of a potential embezzlement scheme. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reportedly opposed the change, allowing the employees to continue their duties, as claimed by bank sources on Monday.
The SBI had raised concerns about financial discrepancies, suggesting that funds from the temple's donation boxes were being misappropriated. An outsourcing firm was initially tasked with removing the cash-counting team, but Trust officials allegedly blocked the process, PTI noted.
SBI reportedly engaged the workers via an outsourcing agency, paying them monthly salaries ranging from ₹12,000 to ₹15,000. The bank's sources highlighted that some temple management individuals, though not part of the Trust, questioned the use of outsourced staff instead of permanent employees for handling daily donations.
Political Criticism and Public Outcry
"Three months ago, the SBI had recommended that those posted at the counting centre be removed. Who has been protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?"
Congress leader Pawan Khera accused officials of shielding the staff, drawing a comparison between the current situation and past governance. He claimed the alleged theft at the Ram Temple was just the beginning, warning, "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 member Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank criticized the government, stating, "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 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)."
Investigation and Arrests
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, following the Trust's request, uncovered irregularities in the handling of cash and valuables. Based on these findings, police filed an FIR on June 25.
The arrests included Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav. Investigators identified Tinnu Yadav as the alleged mastermind, claiming he secured a position for his relative Manish Kumar Yadav in the cash-counting unit.
Tinnu Yadav was reportedly employed as the driver for Champat Rai, the Trust's general secretary. To date, nearly ₹80 lakh in cash and foreign currency has been recovered from six of the eight suspects.
Temple Trust Under Scrutiny
The scandal has intensified scrutiny on the temple Trust, prompting Champat Rai to resign as general secretary. Senior official Anil Mishra also offered to step down. The Faizabad Bar Association declared its members would not defend the accused, with secretary Shailendra Jaiswal stating, "The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments. All lawyers...have agreed not to defend the arrested accused."
The bar association threatened a ₹5 lakh fine for any lawyer representing the accused and demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao leave Ayodhya within three days. If they failed, the group warned of a citywide blockade. This marks a similar stance taken by the association in 2005, when it refused to defend those linked to the terrorist attack on a makeshift Ram Temple in Ayodhya.