The Ayodhya Police conducted an investigation at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Naya Ghat regarding the alleged embezzlement of donations meant for the Ram Temple. The primary bank account of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is held at this SBI branch, where officials are looking into the potential involvement of bank staff in the case.
Two SBI employees, Ratnesh and Gagandeep, who supervised outsourced workers responsible for handling donations, are also under scrutiny. Notably, all six outsourced employees, except for Subhash and Tinnu, have been arrested in connection with the incident. The SBI had reportedly suggested the removal of the donation-counting staff three months ago due to suspicions of irregularities.
In the ongoing investigation, the police have arrested eight counting staff members related to the theft case. Efforts are being made to recover the stolen assets from the temple donation boxes. Additionally, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a PIL requesting a court-monitored probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple donations.
As the probe progresses, statements have been recorded from key individuals like Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Trust, and notices are expected to be issued to former trustees Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. The accused individuals have been remanded to judicial custody until June 29, with further actions dependent on interrogation and CCTV evidence.
