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Relevance: GS Paper II — Governance, Public Trusts; GS Paper IV — Probity in Public Funds Source: SIT & Ayodhya Police, June 2026

1 · What happened

On June 26, 2026, UP Police arrested eight people working for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJKT). They were caught stealing cash donated by devotees. Police recovered nearly ₹80 lakh. The accused will face a Special Court under anti-corruption laws and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Following a fast-tracked probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), two senior Trust officials resigned on moral grounds, showing how deeply this breach of faith impacted the institution.

2 · Why this matters for governance

When a prominent religious trust manages massive, unaudited cash donations, strong internal checks are vital. Failing to protect these funds doesn’t just cause financial loss—it breaks the faith and deep emotional trust of millions of ordinary citizens.

The Institution
The SRJTK Trust
Created by the Central Govt in 2020 after the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict to manage temple construction and all devotee offerings.
Quick Action
State-level response
The UP Govt acted fast. Within 13 days, they formed an investigative team (SIT), filed charges, and made arrests to send a zero-tolerance message.
How they did it
CCTV blindspots
Workers exploited camera blindspots to pocket cash or sneaked extra notes into bundles while taking the donation boxes to the bank.
The Real Cost
Breach of public faith
Beyond the stolen cash, devotees are worried about missing gold and silver offerings. The damage to public trust is far greater than the money lost.
  • Who was involved: Eight men, including counting staff, drivers, and a retired bank worker who was supposed to supervise them.
  • Why a Special Court: Because the Trust manages public funds and was set up by the government, the crime falls under the strict Prevention of Corruption Act.
  • Public anger: Citizens and opposition leaders are demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe and have filed court petitions to freeze the Trust’s accounts.
  • The bigger problem: India lacks a national auditor for religious trusts. The CAG doesn’t check their books automatically, leaving them mostly self-governed and vulnerable.

UPSC Value Box
Hundi Traditional temple donation box. It is not externally audited unless legally required.
BNS Key Sections Sec 306 & 316 cover employee theft and severe trust breaches; Sec 61 covers criminal conspiracy.
Special Investigation Team (SIT) A focused, temporary investigative team set up by the government or courts for special cases.
Prevention of Corruption Act Central law targeting corruption involving public servants or public funds, using Special Judges.
CAG’s Role The constitutional auditor does not check private religious trusts without major govt funding.
State Temple Boards States like Tamil Nadu regulate temple funds locally, but there is no national equivalent.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. Regarding the legal framework in this embezzlement case, consider these statements:

  1. The Trust was formed by the Central Government in 2020 after the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict.
  2. The new BNS law gives a mandatory life sentence to anyone who commits a criminal breach of trust, regardless of their job status.
  3. An SIT is an administrative team formed by governments or courts, not a permanent body strictly defined under new criminal procedure laws.

Which statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) All of the above
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 is Correct: The Trust was indeed set up centrally in February 2020 following the SC’s 2019 directions.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect: The BNS law changes punishments based on the offender’s role. Maximum penalties (life/10 years) are for public officials or bankers, not everyday staff.
  • Statement 3 is Correct: SITs are flexible, administrative tools used for complex probes. They aren’t hardcoded into procedural codes like the BNSS.
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