Ayodhya Ram Temple Theft Probe Hindered by Missing CCTV Footage
A specialized probe into missing donation funds at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has encountered severe obstacles. Investigators revealed that automated data storage limitations and suspected video tampering have severely restricted the critical surveillance footage required to track the alleged financial irregularities.
Key Highlights
- Automated systems overwrite temple security footage every 45 days, erasing critical historical data.
- Forensic experts are investigating potential digital manipulation and attempting data recovery.
- Discrepancies have emerged during official interrogations of temple staff members.
- The high-profile inquiry follows public allegations raised by opposition political leadership.
Ayodhya: Limited-period footage from CCTV cameras installed at the Ram Temple has posed a hurdle to the SIT investigation underway into the alleged embezzlement of donation funds.
According to sources, footage from these cameras is available for only 45 days, after which it gets automatically deleted.
UP govt sets up SIT
The three-member SIT, constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, 2026 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has been investigating allegations of theft of temple donations.
Sources said investigators have also found indications of possible tampering with footage and are trying to recover deleted or altered data.
βThe SIT will attempt to retrieve as much old footage as possible through forensic analysis,β a source said.
Officials said any manipulation carried out in the past 45 days may still leave technical traces and can be detected through forensic scrutiny.
Sources said investigators have found several contradictions in temple workersβ testimonies.
SP chief alleges theft of donation funds
The probe was launched after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged theft of donation funds.
The trust has maintained that internal audits are underway and that no evidence supporting the allegations has been found so far.
Future Outlook
The state-appointed panel is heavily reliant on advanced digital forensics to reconstruct the missing timeline. Moving forward, the technical limitations highlighted by this investigation will likely prompt the temple trust to permanently overhaul its security infrastructure, expanding server storage capabilities to retain surveillance records for much longer operational periods.
FAQs
Why is the Ayodhya Ram Temple CCTV footage missing?
The security system automatically overwrites data every 45 days, meaning older recordings are deleted by default. Additionally, investigators suspect some files may have been intentionally manipulated.
Who is conducting the investigation into the temple funds?
A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, 2026, is handling the inquiry.
What triggered the official inquiry?
The state probe was launched following public allegations regarding the theft of temple donation funds made by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Has the temple trust confirmed any financial loss?
No. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust states that internal audits are still active and no evidence of embezzlement has been uncovered.
