Uttarakhand Police have arrested Pramod Nautiyal, a suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), in connection with alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at the Badrinath temple. Nautiyal, formerly PA to the BKTC chairman, faces questioning after an FIR was lodged and an inquiry committee found prima facie evidence against him.
The Supreme Court has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expeditiously complete its probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court also mandated the SIT to submit a sealed status report and consider suggestions from litigants for improving transparency and investigation quality.
A private security agency has denied involvement in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The agency stated it only recruited personnel for housekeeping at an SBI branch at the bank's request, disclaiming responsibility for their duties or the alleged theft, which is currently under SIT investigation.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai's statement has been recorded by Ayodhya police as part of the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, following his offer to resign over the controversy.
A suspended employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has been booked for alleged irregularities in handling donations at the Badrinath temple. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the act, calling it a "sin akin to cow slaughter," while a high-level government inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The Congress party has also demanded a judicial probe.
Mumbai police have arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly stealing Rs 60,000 from a donation box at the Laxmi Narayan temple in Kandivali West. His associate remains at large, and police investigations involved tracking the accused's travel routes.
Ayodhya Police have taken Ram Shankar Yadav into custody following an FIR alleging embezzlement of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The complaint, lodged by a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, names nine individuals and others for systematic theft and misappropriation of funds. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, and its preliminary findings led to the FIR. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has vowed a 'zero-tolerance' policy and urged evidence submission to the SIT.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Vinay Katiyar on Friday said he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Ram temple donations' theft issue and he "expressed concern".
The Supreme Court will hear petitions on August 17 seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, after deferring the original hearing due to the Solicitor General's UN engagement.
'But two things worked against them: People kept coming forward, and -- crucially -- these were not outsiders.'
Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra stated that the alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya temple was a 'disgraceful blot' and expressed confidence that the temple management system would be improved to prevent future incidents.
The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of financial mismanagement and missing donations related to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. The move follows a request from the Trust itself, amidst escalating political demands for transparency from various parties including the Samajwadi Party and Congress.
The Badrinath temple committee has removed its treasurer, Sandesh Mehta, after 'overwriting' was detected in the donations logbook and the quantity of silver in the temple locker exceeded recorded amounts, amidst an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities.
The Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya has implemented a new, two-shift system for counting cash donations, overseen by the State Bank of India (SBI), following an embezzlement scandal. A new team, including ex-servicemen and supervisors, has been deployed to enhance security and transparency in the process, aiming to prevent future theft and restore public trust.
'What struck me at the time was simply the scale of it -- that something of this magnitude could be unfolding inside the Ram temple itself.' 'It was bewildering. And what troubled me further was the manner in which people were shielding it.'
The Supreme Court has issued a directive for the Shri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, mandating that all donations must be deposited into official donation boxes or the online temple treasury. This comes amidst serious allegations of sevayats siphoning off funds and obstructing online donation methods, highlighting the need for a transparent mechanism in temple management.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donation money at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is expected to question people associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and review banking arrangements for donations.
'Earlier, people used to hand money directly to priests after a ritual, and priests would keep it in their own pockets. We completely stopped that practice.'
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien questioned the Enforcement Directorate's decision to freeze three of the party's bank accounts, worth Rs 440 crore, under the anti-money laundering law. He controversially asked when the ED would freeze "temple funds," in an apparent reference to alleged financial irregularities at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, amidst opposition demands for a judicial probe into the matter.
Air Marshal (retd) Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. His selection follows a rigorous process and comes amidst a recent controversy regarding alleged embezzlement of temple donations.
A primary school teacher, a former car mechanic, a retired bank employee and a trusted aide of a senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust functionary -- people from diverse backgrounds are among the eight arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The RSS's annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak in Belagavi addressed alleged irregularities in the counting of donation box offerings at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, expressing confidence in the ongoing SIT probe. The meeting also reviewed training activities, centenary year programmes, and discussed critical issues such as population imbalance and drug abuse.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to appoint its first full-time CEO from a shortlist of three candidates, chosen from over 5,500 applicants. The Trust is also discussing filling three vacant trustee posts, amending the Trust deed, and addressing administrative matters, including financial affairs and security coordination, following a recent controversy over alleged temple donation embezzlement.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has shortlisted 18 candidates for the Chief Executive Officer position from over 5,300 applicants. Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with the CEO's role focusing on temple administration and management. The selection follows allegations of embezzlement of temple donations, which led to an SIT probe and arrests.
A preliminary report by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has identified Avinash Shukla as the prime accused in the alleged theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, linking him to a suspected 40-day racket involving nearly 70 instances of pilferage from the donation-counting system.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to appoint the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A selection committee is expected to submit three shortlisted names on Wednesday, following an extensive search process that reviewed approximately 5,500 applications. This move comes after the Trust acknowledged that donation theft had harmed its image, aiming to ensure superior management and restore devotee faith.
Following alleged thefts at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and other incidents, prominent temples across India, including Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh and Ambaji temple in Gujarat, are implementing stringent new rules for counting offerings. These measures include mandatory pocketless clothing for staff, extensive CCTV surveillance, metal detector frisking, and promoting digital payments to ensure transparency, honesty, and accountability in donation management.
Investigators recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency from six of the accused.
Under the lens over serious lapses in the donation management system at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Govind Dev Giri, has said that all audit reports were "safe" and that he had no role in the daily donation collection process at the temple.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to convene in Ayodhya to discuss the preliminary report of the SIT investigating the Ram Temple donation theft. The agenda includes reviewing the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, considering the appointment of a CEO, and approving financial statements. The meeting comes amidst ongoing police and SIT investigations, with eight arrests made in connection with the theft.
Seers in Ayodhya are demanding that bureaucrats be excluded from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust following allegations of donation embezzlement and the resignations of two key members, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. While some seers call for the trust to be run solely by religious figures to prevent corruption, others defend the integrity of the resigned officials, highlighting a division within the spiritual community regarding the trust's management and accountability.
A crucial meeting of around 250 seers and VHP functionaries in Ayodhya will address issues concerning the Ram temple, including ensuring adherence to Vaishnav-Ramanandi traditions, restoring devotee confidence after an alleged donation theft, and deliberating on the Trust's management. The meeting follows deferred decisions by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on key appointments.
The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a status report on the alleged embezzlement of donation money at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court also issued notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust following pleas for a fair and time-bound probe, including demands for a CBI investigation and a CAG audit of the temple trust's finances.
The Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya has resolved that its members will not represent the eight individuals accused of embezzling donations from the Ram Temple, imposing a Rs 5 lakh penalty on any lawyer who violates this decision. The association also demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao, associated with the temple management, leave Ayodhya within three days, threatening a city blockade if they do not comply.
An employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has been suspended following a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the management of donations at Badrinath Dham. Both the BKTC and the Uttarakhand government have launched separate investigations into the matter, which gained attention after social media allegations and a formal complaint. The government committee is expected to submit its report within 15 days.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya is expected to submit its final report to the Uttar Pradesh government shortly, sources said on Thursday.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. This new position aims to strengthen administrative and financial management following alleged embezzlement concerns. The CEO will be appointed for a three-year term, overseeing various aspects from finance to pilgrim facilities, and must be an actively practising Hindu with specific managerial experience.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has strongly criticised the Faizabad Bar Association's resolution to prevent advocates from representing those accused in the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, calling the move 'unethical and unlawful' and a violation of constitutional principles and professional ethics.
The trustees are "shocked" by the developments and are duty-bound to ensure that a fair inquiry is conducted and the faith of devotees is restored.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed a new leadership team, including retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as CEO, Ayodhya lawyer Madan Mohan Pandey as trustee, Delhi businessman Mahesh Bhagchandka as treasurer, and Dr Nirmala Yadav as the first woman trustee, to address allegations of theft and improve administration and devotee facilities.
