In a major administrative reform at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir following the donation theft case, 23 employees engaged in counting donations have tendered their resignations en masse, just days after the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust introduced a series of stringent new rules to overhaul the handling of devotee offerings. The mass exit comes against the backdrop of an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged large-scale embezzlement of temple funds, which has already led to eight arrests and the recovery of substantial cash amounts from the accused.
According to reports, the resigning staffers, who were deployed through a contracting agency, submitted their papers to the State Bank of India (SBI) Tulsi Udyan branch that oversees donation counting and the concerned security agency after completing their shift on Wednesday evening. They staged a collective protest and handed over a memorandum outlining their grievances before walking out. On Thursday, only around a dozen counting personnel reported for duty, putting additional pressure on the temple’s donation management operations. The Trust has now begun preparations to recruit a fresh dedicated team with rigorous background verification.
The new norms, rolled out in the wake of the donation theft controversy, mark a sharp departure from earlier practices. Previously, housekeeping staff often handled the counting of cash and valuables from donation boxes. Under the revised system, a specialised team will be appointed exclusively for this sensitive task, while housekeeping personnel will not be involved in handling money and valuables.
Employees involved in counting must now wear pocketless clothes to eliminate any scope for concealing cash or valuables. They are also required to adhere to enhanced security protocols throughout the process and produce police-verified character certificates before being assigned duty. These measures form part of a broader push to plug security loopholes that the SIT has flagged during its investigation.
Staffers who resigned have alleged that the changes have significantly worsened their working conditions. They claim that the earlier two-shift system, under which each person worked approximately six hours, has been merged into a single nine-hour shift, increasing the workload without any corresponding improvement in facilities. Many also complained of salary reductions, with workers performing identical tasks allegedly receiving different wages, and a cut in the number of monthly leave days. Sources close to the employees said they had repeatedly raised these issues with the concerned authorities but received no resolution, prompting the collective decision to quit.
The resignations coincide with a deepening SIT investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations that first came to light last month. The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on the recommendation of the temple Trust after irregularities were detected in the counting process. The probe has so far resulted in the arrest of eight persons linked to donation collection and counting.
Recovered cash includes ₹20.39 lakh from Avinash Shukla, ₹18.07 lakh from Karunesh Pandey, ₹ 16.82 lakh from Anukalp Mishra, ₹14.25 lakh from Lavkush Mishra, ₹7.32 lakh from Ramashankar Mishra and ₹1 lakh from Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu.
SIT findings have revealed that a portion of the stolen funds was invested in the stock market and also lent out at interest. Transactions were allegedly routed through bank accounts of relatives and close associates of the accused to obscure the trail. Investigators froze operations in 30 bank accounts belonging to relatives of three accused, Karunesh Pandey, Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra, after discovering transactions disproportionate to their known sources of income.
During questioning, Anukalp Mishra and co-accused Avinash reportedly admitted that the embezzled donation money was channelled into stocks and interest-bearing loans. Police conducted a search at Anukalp Mishra’s residence on Thursday morning. The SIT, which received a 15-day extension on July 1, is expected to submit its final report to the state government by July 15.
The scandal has also triggered high-level resignations within the Trust. Former general secretary Champat Rai stepped down on July 6, with his resignation accepted by the Trust. He has been succeeded by former Indian Forest Service officer Krishna Mohan, who had lodged the FIR in the case. Trustee Anil Mishra also resigned, while special invitee Gopal Rao was relieved of his responsibilities. None of the three has been named as an accused in the FIR so far.
The investigation has further expanded to examine the alleged misuse of digital IDs issued to trustees and senior office-bearers for recommending VIP darshan passes. Accused Tinnu Yadav, personal driver of Champat Rai, is alleged to have generated hundreds of unauthorised VIP passes, with close associates of certain Trust members under the scanner for running a racket.
Amid these developments, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is preparing for sweeping reforms. A key meeting scheduled for July 22 is expected to finalise overhauls covering the darshan system, religious rituals, donation management, security arrangements, crowd control and facilities for devotees. Trust treasurer Govind Devgiri has indicated that suggestions from saints and scholars of the Ramanandi tradition will be incorporated to make the temple more transparent, organised and devotee-friendly. Consultations have already been held with Nirmohi Akhara Mahant and trustee Mahant Dinendra Das to align rituals accordingly. The Trust also plans to appoint a new permanent general secretary and fill other vacant positions.
