Ram Temple donation fraud: Ayodhya Police question SBI officials at Naya Ghat branch
Synopsis
Ayodhya Police have taken the Ram Temple donation fraud probe directly to the SBI branch that holds the trust's primary account — and evidence is emerging that the bank flagged irregularities three months before any action was taken. With eight arrests, jewellery recovered, and trust officials now in investigators' sights, this case is moving well beyond the counting room.
Key Takeaways
Ayodhya Police visited the SBI Naya Ghat branch on 29 June to question officials, including the branch manager, in the Ram Temple donation embezzlement case.
Two SBI employees — Ratnesh and Gagandeep — are under investigation for supervising the outsourced counting staff.
SBI had reportedly flagged irregularities and recommended removal of counting staff nearly three months before arrests were made; some trust officials allegedly resisted.
Eight counting staff have been arrested; police recovered jewellery and documents from an accused's home on Sunday.
Notices are reportedly likely for former trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao ; statement of former General Secretary Champat Rai already recorded.
The Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a PIL seeking a court-monitored probe and forensic audit into the trust's donation handling.
Ayodhya Police on Monday, 29 June reached the State Bank of India (SBI) branch at Naya Ghat, Ayodhya, to question bank officials as part of the widening probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple. The branch holds the primary account of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and investigators are examining the possible role of bank personnel in the misappropriation.
Bank Officials Under Scrutiny
Investigators are expected to record the statement of the branch manager and examine his role in the alleged irregularities. Two SBI employees — Ratnesh and Gagandeep — are also under investigation. Both were on the bank's payroll and supervised six outsourced employees who were responsible for counting donations and transporting cash to the bank. All six outsourced workers have since been arrested in connection with the case.
Among those arrested, all except Subhash and Tinnu were outsourced staff assigned specifically to handle the temple's donation collections. In total, eight counting staff have been arrested, and efforts are underway to recover stolen assets from the temple's donation boxes.
SBI Had Flagged Irregularities Months Earlier
According to sources, SBI had recommended the removal of the donation-counting staff nearly three months ago after suspecting irregularities in their conduct. However, certain officials of the temple trust reportedly opposed their dismissal — a detail that investigators are now examining closely. This reportedly delayed corrective action and may have allowed the alleged theft to continue.
Key Witnesses and Upcoming Notices
Police have already recorded the statement of Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Notices are also reportedly likely to be issued to former trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao as the investigation progresses. The FIR in the case was registered on the complaint of a trust member after a preliminary Special Investigation Team (SIT) report flagged multiple financial irregularities. The accused were remanded to judicial custody until 29 June, with police stating that further action would depend on interrogation findings and CCTV-based evidence.
On Sunday, police recovered jewellery and documents from the residence of one of the accused following searches at the homes of all eight arrested individuals.
Supreme Court Declines Urgent PIL Hearing
The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored probe and forensic audit into the handling of donations received by the trust. When the matter was mentioned before a bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu, the petitioner pressed for an urgent listing, describing the allegations as 'very serious' and raising concerns over the manner in which the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government was handling the matter. The court did not grant the urgent listing.
What Comes Next
With notices likely to be served on former trust officials and bank employees under active scrutiny, the investigation is entering a critical phase. The interplay between the trust's internal resistance to removing suspect staff and the bank's own delayed reporting will be central to establishing accountability. All eyes are now on whether the probe expands to include trust leadership.
Point of View
Allegedly because trust officials resisted removing the suspect staff. That gap is where accountability questions will ultimately land. The probe is now moving toward the trust's own leadership, and the Supreme Court's refusal to grant an urgent PIL hearing does not close the door on judicial oversight — it merely delays it. If notices reach former trustees, the political and religious dimensions of this case will intensify considerably. The Ram Temple is not merely a place of worship; it is a symbol of enormous political capital, which makes institutional accountability here far more fraught — and far more necessary.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation embezzlement case in Ayodhya?
It is a criminal case involving the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. An FIR was registered after a preliminary SIT report flagged multiple financial irregularities, leading to the arrest of eight counting staff.
Why are SBI officials being questioned in the Ram Temple fraud case?
The SBI branch at Naya Ghat, Ayodhya, holds the trust's primary bank account, and investigators are examining whether bank personnel played any role in the alleged embezzlement. Two SBI employees, Ratnesh and Gagandeep, supervised the outsourced counting staff who have been arrested.
Did SBI raise concerns before the arrests were made?
According to sources, SBI had recommended the removal of the donation-counting staff nearly three months before arrests were made, after suspecting irregularities. Some temple trust officials reportedly opposed their dismissal, which allegedly delayed corrective action.
What did the Supreme Court say about the PIL on the Ram Temple donations?
The Supreme Court on 29 June declined to grant an urgent hearing to a PIL seeking a court-monitored investigation and forensic audit into the trust's handling of donations. The petitioner argued the allegations were 'very serious' and raised concerns about how the Uttar Pradesh government was managing the matter.
Who else may face notices in the Ram Temple donation fraud probe?
Sources indicate that notices are likely to be issued to former trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao as the investigation progresses. The statement of former General Secretary Champat Rai has already been recorded by police.
