A little bit of hunger is good for you," says Serge Pizzorno. "Keeps you going. The Kasabian frontman is describing a typical day in his home recording studio. Snacks and phones are banned, but he might screen a film in the background (typically something by David Lynch) while he tinkers with his
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
ICTS 2026: Centre says Delhi set to get comprehensive road-grid plan within 3-4 monthsThe Capital is set to get a comprehensive road-grid plan within months as the Centre moves to implement the city’s new master plan, a senior Union housing and urban affairs ministry official said on Tuesday
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
As India moves from AI experimentation to real-world application, the ET AI Awards 2027 recognise organisations, teams and leaders driving AI innovation, business transformation and measurable impact. Across AI startups, SMEs and enterprises, the awards spotlight excellence in AI products
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
Six of 8 held in Ram Temple donation case were employed by Varanasi firm
Six of eight held over Ram Temple donation irregularities were employed by Varanasi security firm
Six of eight held over Ram Temple donation irregularities were employed by Varanasi security firm
According to the agency’s website, it works across 15 states and lists a number of government companies among its clients.
Updated on: Jul 01, 2026 7:57 AM IST By Sudhir Kumar, Pawan Dixit Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Six of the eight men arrested in connection with irregularities in the Ram Temple donation collections were on the payroll of a Varanasi-based security agency that provided manpower for the cash-counting process at the shrine in Ayodhya, HT has found. Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maha Vikas Aghadi MLAs today protested at the Vidhan Bhavan against the scam in the donation box of Ram Mandir. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo) This agency – Sainik Security Services – was incorporated in its present form with a Varanasi registered address and a paid-up capital of ₹1 lakh in December 2017, according to the ministry of corporate affairs database. The agency was hired by the State Bank of India (SBI), Naya Ghat Branch, Ayodhya for the cash-counting process, said Gaurav Singh, the owner and director of Sainik Security Services, Varanasi. The branch is one of the three bank branches where the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust had an account. He added that the branch recommended the names of 19 people to be included in the cash-counting team. Also Read: How donations were counted at Ayodhya's Ram temple and how it differed from other UP temples “Usually, it’s the corporate office that raises demand, but in this case, the local branch raised the demand for the 19 employees”, said Gaurav Singh. “In this case, the branch asked us to induct 19 of its previously deployed persons into our fold and provide them to the branch. We did so. The demand was raised by the local branch,” he added. SBI said it is cooperating with the SIT. In a statement, SBI said it has provided the trust with banking services since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January 2024. A senior SBI official in Lucknow who asked not to be named said: “Usually, hirings such as these are done at the corporate or centralised level.” According to the agency’s website, it works across 15 states and lists a number of government companies among its clients. Also Read: ₹5 lakh fine if Ram temple donation case accused represented: Ayodhya lawyers' body to members The documents submitted by the Ayodhya police to the court of Rajat Varma, additional district judge, anti-corruption, reveal that six of the eight accused were being paid by the Varanasi-based agency, said people aware of the matter. The eight men arrested so far include Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav ‘Tinnu’, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Rama Shankar Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey, said police officers aware of the matter. “Ram Shankar Yadav was paid by the trust and Srivastava, a former bank employee, didn’t draw wages, according to a person in the trust who asked not to be named”, said a person in the trust asked not to be named. Also Read: Warning ignored, SOPs bypassed: Five questions at the heart of the Ayodhya donation row Anukalp Mishra and Luvkush Mishra are related to each other, and also to trust member Anil Mishra, who resigned last week along with trust general secretary Champat Rai. Ram Shankar Yadav – an aide of Rai – and Manish Yadav are related. Gaurav Singh said each of the 19 people were paid around ₹20,000 a month. “My father had founded it in the year 2000 as a proprietorship unit, then it grew and changed form into a partnership firm, and then turned into a private limited company subsequently in 2017. I became the director then,” he added. HT reported on Tuesday that officials at the SBI branch had alleged that some trust members had put pressure on the bank to include certain people in the counting team. “They were powerful, we could not refuse…They are now under the scanner for pressuring SBI to include certain people for the cash-counting work,” said a senior bank official on the condition of anonymity. Earlier, in a statement on Sunday, SBI said it is fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in the handling of donations collected through the donation boxes at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. In the statement, SBI said it was providing banking services to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in 2024. The bank said it has extended full cooperation to the SIT during the inquiry and remains committed to assisting the ongoing investigation. Gaurav Singh clarified that his connection was with the bank branch, not the trust. “Temple is not our client. The SBI is. We are the second vendor. I don’t want to make any comment on the matter because I have nothing to do with the temple. Sainik Security Services provided the bank with the manpower it desired. At the bank’s recommendation, Sainik Security Services employed 19 people as caretakers (peons) and handed them over to the bank,” Gaurav Singh said. Police have already recovered ₹79.85 lakh in cash from seven of the eight accused during searches.When did the controversy surface
The controversy first surfaced on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey alleged that donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore were siphoned off from temple offerings. On June 13, the state government set up a special investigation team at the request of the temple trust. The panel — comprising Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Lucknow Range inspector-general Kiran S, and special secretary (finance) Neel Ratan — conducted a preliminary inquiry in Ayodhya between June 15 and 20 and flagged prima facie irregularities in the handling of cash and valuables offered by devotees. According to investigators, the probe prima facie revealed a systematic diversion of cash during the collection and counting process. The SIT alleged that a portion of the offerings was siphoned off before being deposited into the temple’s designated bank account, leading to the arrest of eight employees associated with handling and counting donations on June 26. Last week, a first information report was registered against eight named accused and other unidentified people under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), relating to offences such as criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sudhir Kumar Sudhir Kumar is Varanasi based senior staff correspondent.He covers all developments, politics, education--primary, secondary and higher -- crime, offbeat, tribes and human angle storiesRead More ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pawan Dixit Pawan Dixit has been a journalist for over a decade. He has extensively covered eastern UP for around five years, covered 2012 UP assembly polls, 2014 Lok Sabha polls while being stationed in Varanasi. Now, in Lucknow, he covers outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commissionRead More Ram Temple Samajwadi Party Sbi Check India news real-time updates, latest news on Hindustan Times and more across India. Home/India News/Six Of Eight Held Over Ram Temple Donation Irregularities Were Employed By Varanasi Security Firm See LessSix of the eight men arrested in connection with irregularities in the Ram Temple donation collections were on the payroll of a Varanasi-based security agency that provided manpower for the cash-counting process at the shrine in Ayodhya, HT has found.
This agency – Sainik Security Services – was incorporated in its present form with a Varanasi registered address and a paid-up capital of ₹1 lakh in December 2017, according to the ministry of corporate affairs database.
The agency was hired by the State Bank of India (SBI), Naya Ghat Branch, Ayodhya for the cash-counting process, said Gaurav Singh, the owner and director of Sainik Security Services, Varanasi. The branch is one of the three bank branches where the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust had an account. He added that the branch recommended the names of 19 people to be included in the cash-counting team.
Also Read: How donations were counted at Ayodhya's Ram temple and how it differed from other UP temples
“Usually, it’s the corporate office that raises demand, but in this case, the local branch raised the demand for the 19 employees”, said Gaurav Singh. “In this case, the branch asked us to induct 19 of its previously deployed persons into our fold and provide them to the branch. We did so. The demand was raised by the local branch,” he added.
SBI said it is cooperating with the SIT. In a statement, SBI said it has provided the trust with banking services since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January 2024.
A senior SBI official in Lucknow who asked not to be named said: “Usually, hirings such as these are done at the corporate or centralised level.”
According to the agency’s website, it works across 15 states and lists a number of government companies among its clients.
Also Read: ₹5 lakh fine if Ram temple donation case accused represented: Ayodhya lawyers' body to members
The documents submitted by the Ayodhya police to the court of Rajat Varma, additional district judge, anti-corruption, reveal that six of the eight accused were being paid by the Varanasi-based agency, said people aware of the matter.
The eight men arrested so far include Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav ‘Tinnu’, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Rama Shankar Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey, said police officers aware of the matter.
“Ram Shankar Yadav was paid by the trust and Srivastava, a former bank employee, didn’t draw wages, according to a person in the trust who asked not to be named”, said a person in the trust asked not to be named.
Also Read: Warning ignored, SOPs bypassed: Five questions at the heart of the Ayodhya donation row
Anukalp Mishra and Luvkush Mishra are related to each other, and also to trust member Anil Mishra, who resigned last week along with trust general secretary Champat Rai. Ram Shankar Yadav – an aide of Rai – and Manish Yadav are related.
Gaurav Singh said each of the 19 people were paid around ₹20,000 a month. “My father had founded it in the year 2000 as a proprietorship unit, then it grew and changed form into a partnership firm, and then turned into a private limited company subsequently in 2017. I became the director then,” he added.
HT reported on Tuesday that officials at the SBI branch had alleged that some trust members had put pressure on the bank to include certain people in the counting team. “They were powerful, we could not refuse…They are now under the scanner for pressuring SBI to include certain people for the cash-counting work,” said a senior bank official on the condition of anonymity.
Earlier, in a statement on Sunday, SBI said it is fully cooperating with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in the handling of donations collected through the donation boxes at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. In the statement, SBI said it was providing banking services to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in 2024. The bank said it has extended full cooperation to the SIT during the inquiry and remains committed to assisting the ongoing investigation.
Gaurav Singh clarified that his connection was with the bank branch, not the trust.
“Temple is not our client. The SBI is. We are the second vendor. I don’t want to make any comment on the matter because I have nothing to do with the temple. Sainik Security Services provided the bank with the manpower it desired. At the bank’s recommendation, Sainik Security Services employed 19 people as caretakers (peons) and handed them over to the bank,” Gaurav Singh said.
Police have already recovered ₹79.85 lakh in cash from seven of the eight accused during searches.
On June 13, the state government set up a special investigation team at the request of the temple trust. The panel — comprising Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Lucknow Range inspector-general Kiran S, and special secretary (finance) Neel Ratan — conducted a preliminary inquiry in Ayodhya between June 15 and 20 and flagged prima facie irregularities in the handling of cash and valuables offered by devotees.
According to investigators, the probe prima facie revealed a systematic diversion of cash during the collection and counting process. The SIT alleged that a portion of the offerings was siphoned off before being deposited into the temple’s designated bank account, leading to the arrest of eight employees associated with handling and counting donations on June 26.
Last week, a first information report was registered against eight named accused and other unidentified people under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), relating to offences such as criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Police raid homes of eight held in Ayodhya Ram Temple donation case SEBI proposes EPF-style employer contribution to mutual funds for employees FIR lodged over Ram Temple donation SIT flags 70 instances of donation theft at Ram temple Ram Temple 'donation theft' Action will be taken in Ram temple donation theft case Ram temple donation row What the SIT report on Ram temple donation theft does and does not say FIR filed against eight persons for alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations Five to eight more semiconductor plants to come up in eight years
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)
