Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 15: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe into the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation fund embezzlement, is learnt to have come to the conclusion that excessive reliance and overdependence on one of the accused Tinnu Yadav was a major factor that allowed the irregularities to continue unchecked.
It also reported to have found that though the knowledge of the theft was available to the authorities for some time, no action was taken and instead attempts were made to suppress the information fearing damage to the trust’s reputation.
Tinnu Yadav, a former driver and close aide of the former Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, is one of the eight counting agents arrested on charges of fund theft. Sources said the SIT has raised questions over what it described as excessive reliance on Tinnu Yadav and has also reportedly noted that a portion of the allegedly stolen money was recovered from him along with some other accused in the case.
The SIT is expected to submit its report in the next couple of days with the three-member panel currently is reported to be in the final stages of preparing its findings, sources said. The SIT’s extended 15-day deadline ends on Wednesday and the government has so far not extended its tenure though the team may seek additional time to complete certain aspects of the investigation. The panel is expected to submit its report to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad.
According to sources, the report is expected to identify not only those directly responsible for the alleged fund theft but also officials whose negligence may have contributed to the incident. Sources said the SIT has separately identified those accused of stealing Ram Temple offerings and those found to have been negligent in handling the matter.
The report reportedly concluded that the alleged theft was made possible because the prescribed procedures under the agreement between the Ram Temple Trust and the State Bank of India Ayodhya branch were not followed properly.
According to sources, the SIT has also mentioned that despite information about the alleged theft being available, no action was taken for a considerable period. The report further states that there were attempts to suppress the matter in view of the damage it could cause to the Ram Temple Trust’s reputation.
According to sources, earlier questioning of the accused had suggested that the alleged thefts were carried out in an organised manner. Investigators were told that roles were assigned in advance, including who would remove cash from the donation boxes and who would position themselves in front of CCTV cameras to obstruct the view. Sources said CCTV footage reviewed during the probe appeared to support some of these claims, with certain accused allegedly seen concealing currency notes while handling the cash.
Sources said the SIT has examined financial records, banking transactions, CCTV footage, electronic evidence, documentary material and statements of witnesses and accused persons while preparing its final report.
Investigators are assessing every stage of the donation management process, from the custody and transportation of donation boxes to cash counting, banking, surveillance and audits. The probe is also looking into whether standard operating procedures were followed and whether lapses in supervision, documentation, access control, record maintenance and internal checks created opportunities for the alleged diversion of funds.
The SIT is also likely to recommend reforms in the temple’s donation collection, monitoring and auditing mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the Ayodhya Police have sought assistance from the Income Tax Department to trace the alleged flow of funds, identify possible hidden assets and determine whether other individuals benefited from the suspected embezzlement.
Investigators are scrutinising nearly 50 bank accounts linked to the eight arrested accused and their family members, with transactions dating back to 2022 being examined. The financial probe is focused on whether the alleged proceeds were routed through relatives’ accounts, invested in stocks, used to purchase immovable properties or parked in other financial instruments.
Police have sought bank statements, KYC details, nominee information and transaction records to reconstruct the movement of funds. Investigators are analysing cash deposits, high-value withdrawals, inter-account transfers and investments to identify unexplained transactions or disproportionate assets.
The Income Tax Department has also been asked to examine whether the alleged proceeds were invested in equities, mutual funds, fixed-income instruments or real estate, and whether multiple transactions were used to conceal the source of the funds.
Officials said the financial analysis could help establish the complete money trail, quantify the alleged proceeds, identify additional beneficiaries and determine whether further offences under financial or anti-corruption laws were attracted.
