Three killed in separate wall collapse incidents in Odisha amid heavy rainfallOdisha recorded 1,154.3 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 31 against its normal seasonal rainfall of 1,150.2 mm Updated on: Sep 2, 2026, 07:49:44 IST By Debabrata Mohanty Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
Vaishnavi Patil, 26, was supposed to share the stage with Rahul Gandhi at a Congress party event for women in Pune last month. She could not address the crowd because of time constraints but was far from disappointed. “This was the first event where a political party head was talking about
Fact check: Is Dollywood closing permanently after a fire? Could Disney buy the park for $200 billion?Rumors that Dollywood burned down and is permanently closing are false. The park remains open. While, Disney takeover claims are also untrue. Published on: Sep 2, 2026
Erin Piacenti’s killer posted about ‘stabbing others for no reason’ months before attackMonths before killing Bank of America VP Erin Piacenti, Pamela Cisneros shared a series of posts where she rambled about religion, the meaning of life and more Updated on: Sep 2, 2026
Ariana Grande made an emotional exit on Tuesday night, as she wrapped up her Eternal Sunshine tour, and prepared to step back from public life. The singer was occasionally close to tears - most notably during One Last Time, the song that took on extra meaning as an anthem for survivors of the 2017
An SBI manager questioned in Ayodhya ‘theft’ case was a tenant of Ram temple trustee
The State Bank of India is banker to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The cash offerings at the temple are counted in the temple complex and regularly deposited at the Ayodhya branch of the bank, where the temple trust operates two accounts.
The trust was formed to construct the temple after a Supreme Court judgement in 2019 awarded the site of the demolished Babri Masjid to Hindus.
Two years after the inauguration of the temple, the trust and its powerful members have been hit by allegations that vast amounts of money and jewellery donated by devotees have been stolen under their watch.
As Scroll has reported, one of those officials under scrutiny is Anil Mishra, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and most prominent name in the Sangh in the Awadh region.
According to the Indian Express, Mishra was in charge of the temple’s donation and counting process. He has reportedly resigned from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, though his resignation is yet to be accepted.
Strikingly, a State Bank of India official and his family live as tenants in Mishra’s home in Faizabad’s Amaniganj locality, Scroll has found.
The SBI official, Addikya Raghu Ram Sagar, was interrogated by the Special Investigation Team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to inquire into the allegations of theft, according to an official in the Ayodhya branch of the bank. Sagar admitted to Scroll that he had been questioned by the team. He said he was not involved in the counting process.
Several bank officials have been questioned about the case by the Special Investigation Team.
A former official at the Ayodhya branch, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Scroll that the bank was responsible for counting cash donations but it had outsourced this responsibility to the Ram temple trust after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with it. As part of the MoU, the trust hired staff for the counting of cash donations, who were paid by the SBI, the official said.
The bank did not respond to questions from Scroll. A spokesperson declined to comment over a phone call.
Scroll texted Mishra seeking a response. The story will be updated if he responds.
Sagar’s Linkedin profile describes him as a chief manager at the SBI in Ayodhya. Three officials at the bank said that he liaisons between the bank and the temple trust and also handles the bank’s digital banking vertical. But his main job, they added, is to manage visits to the Ram temple for SBI and Reserve Bank of India officials.
Sagar told Scroll that he was not involved in the trust’s counting of cash donations. “This [SIT] investigation has started now,” he said. “Only in the last two weeks, Anil Mishra has been proven to be a culprit in it – not even a culprit, he’s an accused. Before that, Mishra was known to be such a great man that to meet him, one would have to wait for two hours in a queue…How would I ever dream up that things would turn out this way?”
Mishra’s house is located in Faizabad’s upscale Amaniganj locality, about 4 km from the temple. When Scroll visited the house, there were two cars parked inside – one registered in Sagar’s name and the other in Mishra’s.
At the temple, Mishra oversaw the counting, storage and use of cash donations, according to the Indian Express. He, too, was questioned by the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team for his role in the alleged theft of the funds and valuable offerings at the temple.
Navneet Mishra, Anil Mishra’s daughter-in-law, who lives on the ground floor, said that Sagar has lived on the first floor for nearly four years.
An SBI official in Ayodhya said that Sagar also obtained VIP passes for the bank’s visitors by coordinating with RSS leader Gopal Rao, an administrator at the temple.
A VIP pass at the Ram temple allows visitors to use a special queue and grants access to an area called Ram Bhavan, which is located above the temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
This official added that SIT had questioned Sagar because of his tenancy at Mishra’s home. The SIT report is yet to be made public.
Sagar first denied that he had been questioned by the SIT to Scroll, then added: “The interrogation was not related to this [being a tenant at Mishra’s house]. Whatever they asked, I answered. I don’t need to tell you about it.”
The SBI runs a branch in Ayodhya and a regional business office in the nearby town of Faizabad. Three SBI officials told Scroll that while Sagar is formally attached with the regional business office, he spends most of his time at the temple trust’s office in Ayodhya.
Sagar is from Hyderabad but studied at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. He was posted at SBI in Ayodhya district between 2021 and 2024, then transferred for three months to Badaun district in western Uttar Pradesh. He was posted back to Ayodhya in April 2024, after the inauguration of the temple.
The SIT’s inquiry, prompted by allegations from a whistleblower and Opposition leaders that cash and jewellery offerings were swindled under the trust’s watch, led to a first information report on June 25.
It named eight accused, including Subhash Srivastava, a local RSS leader who managed the counting of cash donations, and Ram Shankar Yadav, an aide of Champat Rai. The other accused were staffers hired for counting – Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Ramashankar Mishra.
The FIR did not name trustees Mishra and Rai.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Police raid homes of eight held in Ayodhya Ram Temple donation case In Ayodhya, it’s Sangh Parivar vs Sangh Parivar as Ram temple fund ‘theft’ charges blow up Ayodhya Ram temple overhauls board after alleged theft of donations PM Modi hoists saffron flag atop Ram Temple in Ayodhya Ayodhya Ram temple ED searches Vedanta Group’s offices in foreign exchange violations case SC says “something is wrong” in Madras HC handling of Karur stampede case Delhi Police arrests another accused in Turkman Gate stone-pelting case CAS rules set for change Delhi HC restores Youth Congress chief's bail in AI summit protest case
About a century ago, long before environmental degradation became the crisis of our times, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had sounded early warning bells about the destruction of forests. Though Tagore was born in the city of Kolkata, he had a deep and abiding contact with nature from childhood
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.The joy of drawing anywhere starts with the right tablet, and these six options make a strong case for leaving the deskLarge canvases
1 days ago
Cops quiz witnesses to form ‘watertight’ case over Greater Noida-Delhi bus gangrapeA police officer associated with the probe said that they have written to the Forensic Science Laboratory to expedite the report. Updated on: Sep 2, 2026, 07:21:59 IST By Hemani Bhandari Prefer HTon Google Share
1 days ago
The Supreme Court quashed several first information reports against protesters. It invoked constitutional powers to ensure complete justice for young participants. The court also directed that similar cases in other states shall not be pursued
1 days ago
Orry reveals he went to Khatron Ke Khiladi 15 without informing his parents: ‘Not fragile Barbie doll people paint me’Orry has impressed one and all with his performance in multiple stunts on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15. Updated on: Sep 2, 2026, 06:15:26 IST By Santanu Das Prefer HTon Google Share
1 days ago
Manchester City have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a joint-British transfer record £125m. The Fernandez deal takes City's spending to a Premier League record £458m for a single transfer window, surpassing Liverpool's £415m from last summer
1 days ago
Gurgaon woman busts myth of ‘lavish corporate life’, says salary disappears after paydayA Gurgaon woman shared how bills and daily expenses left her with little of her salary soon after payday. Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 14:24:23 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
2 days ago
A 25 groove philosophy: John Ternus built his way to Apple’s top jobThe parts nobody sees are exactly the ones worth getting right. That has always been Apple’s approach. That is also the John Ternus way Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 12:11:04 IST By Vishal Mathur Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
2 days ago
US army secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after reported tensions with Pete HegsethDan Driscoll's departure is the latest high-profile exit at the US defense department under defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 14:18:54 IST Bloomberg Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link US Army
2 days ago
Who is Hannah Israel? Heartbroken owner speaks out after beloved donkey HeeHaw is killed by cop: ‘He was my son!’Hannah Israel, the owner of a donkey, HeeHaw, was left heartbroken after a Cedartown police officer allegedly shot the animal dead in Polk County. Published on: Sep 1, 2026
2 days ago
India is preparing a framework that would let AI agents make small digital payments without approval for every transaction, three sources familiar with the matter said, potentially making UPI one of the world's largest networks with agentic payments
2 days ago
The Delhi High Court sought a response from the Wrestling Federation of India. Olympian Vinesh Phogat challenged two show-cause notices issued against her. She alleges arbitrary and discriminatory disciplinary actions by the federation. Phogat also seeks a fair framework for women athletes
2 days ago
Mirzapur: The Movie, starring Ali Fazal and Pankaj Tripathi, is all set to hit theatres on September 4, and fans of the popular web series are eagerly waiting to see the Mirzapur universe expand to the big screen. The film has been passed with an ‘A’ certificate by the CBFC and has a runtime of
2 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday once again appealed to Indians not to travel abroad and refrain from buying gold. “Avoid organising destination weddings in foreign countries,” said Modi in a video posted from Kyrgyzstan. The prime minister is in the country for the Shanghai Cooperation
2 days ago
A dark wall appears from behind the buildings at Gyirong, on the Chinese side of the Nepal-Tibet border. At first, it looks almost like a black cloud. Then it gathers shape and speed: water, mud, boulders, ice and rock surging down the valley
2 days ago
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the BJP’s 10-day ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra gives Congress an opportunity to counter the opposition and that his party will plan a response. He also discussed drought assessment across Karnataka and criticised the FIR against Rahul Gandhi as
2 days ago
A content creator from China attempted to experience life as a woman in Delhi, but it took an unsettling turn after he started getting unwanted attention from men. Dressed in women’s clothing and walking through the city, the blogger claimed that several men approached him
2 days ago
Founder who survived on bread, water at 18 thinks everyone should go ‘completely broke’ onceA Mumbai-based founder claimed that surviving on bread and water at 18 removed his fear of startup failure and financial losses. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026
2 days ago
What the robots are telling usWhile setting their own athletic records at the robot Olympics, humanoid robots underline a visible shift from an engineering spectacle to being a commercial and trade leverage Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 11:48:03 IST By Vishal Mathur Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
2 days ago
Sleeping until 9 am is often linked with laziness or a lack of discipline in Indian homes. But Gurgaon-based entrepreneur Jasveer Singh believes the idea needs to be questioned. The co-founder and CEO of Knot Dating said waking up early should not be treated as an achievement
2 days ago
Did you know the term 'Artificial Intelligence' was coined 71 years ago?The term “Artificial Intelligence” was coined by computer scientist in 1955, when he used it in a proposal for a summer research project at Dartmouth College. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026
2 days ago
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 22 states sued Amazon on Monday for allegedly "manipulating" online auctions for digital advertising, resulting in more than $20 billion in overcharges for 1.2 million customers. Amazon "has secretly and systematically overcharged its approximately 1
2 days ago
The death toll in Nepal from devastating floods on the border with Tibet has crossed 1,000, according to the country's disaster agency. More than 3,900 people remain missing - of whom more than 600 are workers believed to be trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels at hydropower sites along
2 days ago
‘Prove my role, I’ll retire’: Karanataka minister Priyank Kharge challenges HD Kumaraswamy over KPSC rowKarnataka minister Priyank Kharge claimed Kumaraswamy was asked by the RSS or Amit Shah to target him. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 14:28:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
Always looking for a sweet treat after dinner? Fitness coach Eric Roberts shares 3 reasons for late-night sugar cravings Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 14:09:20 IST By Eshana Saha Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Read more to find out why your sugar cravings intensify at the end of the day!
2 days ago
3-year-old kidnapped from Delhi found 1,000 km away in Bihar; accused woman had 6 daughters, wanted a sonThe child went missing while he was playing near his mother, who had gone to the hospital to collect medicines, police said. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026
2 days ago
63-year-old grandmother shares 1 exercise senior citizens must do to stay independent as they age: 'Knee pain is tricky' Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 14:05:05 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Think you should skip squats due to knee pain? This 63-year-old fitness coach says
2 days ago
![Washington DC [US], August 23 (ANI): Dr Dre, the legendary hip-hop producer and performer, sees AI as another tool in the music-tech toolbox akin to](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/its-a-new-tool-for-creativity.jpg?width=120&height=70)
