Ram Temple Donation Theft: Varanasi Link Exposed as Champat Rai Blames Aide Tinnu Yadav

The Ram Temple donation theft investigation deepened on Thursday with two major developments, a fresh Varanasi connection to the accused and former Trust general secretary Champat Rai reportedly blaming his ex-aide for the alleged fraud. Investigators revealed that six of the eight arrested accused were employed by Sainik Security Services , a Varanasi-based outsourcing agency hired by the State Bank of India's Naya Ghat branch in Ayodhya to supply staff for counting temple donations.

According to sources, the SBI branch bypassed the bank's usual centralised hiring process and directly asked the agency to induct 19 previously deployed individuals for the counting operation. Agency director Gaurav Singh clarified that his firm's agreement was solely with SBI and not with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, adding that the workers were originally recruited for housekeeping duties before being handed the sensitive task of handling temple cash. Each employee was reportedly paid around Rs 20,000 a month. Investigators are now examining whether the recruitment process followed proper transparency, with some appointments allegedly made on recommendation rather than merit.

Separately, sources close to the probe said Champat Rai has told people close to him that his former driver and aide, Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav , was the central figure behind the alleged embezzlement and had betrayed the trust placed in him. Rai reportedly also believes Tinnu Yadav leaked information to a Samajwadi Party leader once he sensed the fraud was about to be exposed. Police have already recorded Rai's statement, in which he admitted responsibility for the delay in filing a police complaint while denying direct involvement in the theft.

The developments come amid continuing scrutiny of Rai's oversight, with an earlier SIT report noting that a concealed surveillance camera inside the counting room, unknown to the accused, ultimately captured footage exposing the theft. The Faizabad Bar Association has also pressed ahead with plans to seek an FIR against Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao under BNSS Section 156(3), warning of a city-wide blockade in Ayodhya if authorities fail to act. Police have so far recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash linked to the case, which continues to widen with each passing day.