Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Temple Management Questions Leak During Ram Donation Theft Probe
Temple workers found about Rs 2.25 lakh in a toilet near the donation-counting room.
Officials began checking camera footage to understand what happened.
They questioned several workers and asked some to bring money from their homes.
More people were questioned as the investigation continued.
The recovered money was labelled and locked in a safe.
Champat Rai did not immediately file a police complaint, but police personnel were informed.
Akhilesh Yadav later spoke publicly about the donation theft.
Rai wanted to know who had told Yadav before the internal investigation was finished.
About Rs 2.25 lakh was found in a toilet in the temple donation-counting room on June 4.
Temple officials questioned three second-shift employees and recovered separate amounts from their homes.
The inquiry expanded after CCTV footage allegedly showed others taking money from the counting area.
Recovered cash was labelled, placed in separate bags and eventually secured in a large safe.
Champat Rai questioned how Akhilesh Yadav learned about the theft while the internal inquiry was continuing.
- Who
- Champat Rai, temple officials, counting-room workers, police personnel and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav.
- What
- An internal inquiry examined the suspected theft of temple donations and investigated how details reached Akhilesh Yadav.
- When
- The inquiry began on June 4 and expanded through June 7; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- The investigation took place in the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya and at suspects’ homes, including locations near Rudauli and the Nepal border in Bahraich district.
- Why
- Officials sought to trace missing donation money and identify who leaked information about the case.
- Initial discovery
- A bundle of currency notes was found in a toilet in the hundi counting room.
- Amount initially found
- Approximately Rs 2.25 lakh.
- Investigation start
- June 4, after worker Anand Chaudhary informed Champat Rai.
- Initial suspects
- Three employees who had worked the second shift in the counting room.
- Evidence examined
- CCTV footage and questioning of employees and other people linked to the counting area.
- Police response
- Rai decided against immediately filing an FIR but directed officials to inform police personnel inside the complex.
- Recovered cash
- Money was labelled in separate bags and eventually placed in a large safe.
- Leak concern
- Rai questioned who informed Akhilesh Yadav while the internal inquiry was underway.