Investigators Turn Attention To Ayodhya SBI Branch In Ram Temple Donation Case

The investigation into the alleged Ram temple donation money scam has intensified, with the State Bank of India's (SBI) Naya Ghat branch in Ayodhya emerging as a key focus of the probe. On Monday, a police team from the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station spent nearly four hours at the branch collecting financial records linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and seven of the eight accused arrested in connection with the case. Investigators are examining bank transactions to determine the alleged diversion or misuse of donation funds.

According to officials, the Trust maintains accounts at the Naya Ghat branches of SBI, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank. During the police visit, SBI officials provided transaction details and account-related information pertaining to the accused. Chief Manager Anoop Tripathi confirmed that the bank cooperated fully with the investigation, stating that the police had sought details of accounts linked to those arrested in the alleged donation money scam and that the requested information had been shared.

The probe has also brought renewed attention to the process adopted for counting donations received at the Ram temple. The Trust had entrusted the responsibility of counting cash offerings to SBI, which appointed nine of its employees to carry out the task. Additional manpower was supplied by a Varanasi-based agency, while the Trust also deployed some of its own personnel during the counting process. Investigators are now examining whether any lapses in the cash handling system may have facilitated the alleged irregularities.

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Sources familiar with the investigation claimed that concerns over the donation counting process had surfaced months before the arrests. According to bank sources, a red flag regarding alleged irregularities in the counting of donation money was reportedly raised around three months ago. The sources further alleged that certain Trust officials had exerted pressure on the bank in the past to include specific individuals in the cash-counting team. These claims are now being examined as part of the ongoing investigation, although no official confirmation has been issued regarding their role in the alleged scam.

The case has attracted significant public attention given the scale of donations received by the Ram temple and the importance of maintaining transparency in the management of public contributions. Investigators are expected to scrutinise banking records, cash-counting procedures and the financial transactions of the accused to establish whether any criminal conspiracy or financial misconduct took place. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact amount allegedly misappropriated, and further arrests or questioning cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.

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