Overview
- The probe began after internal disclosures in early June and an SIT interim report led to an FIR on June 25 that named eight people linked to donation counting and prompted multiple arrests.
- The SIT has ordered a re‑audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s accounts for the past five years to examine construction spending and records for gold, silver and jewellery donations.
- Police say recoveries include cash, some foreign currency and small quantities of gold and silver and that CCTV and counting-room procedures suggest staff concealed notes during the counting process.
- Six of the eight arrested were employees supplied by a Varanasi security agency and investigators are now scrutinising recruitment, bank‑deposit handling at SBI and PNB, and background checks.
- The Trust has received resignations from general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra and will meet Monday to consider them while opposition parties press for court‑monitored probes and wider audits, raising reputational and political risks ahead.