While the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir has sparked nationwide debate, a similar case has surfaced at Ambaji Temple, raising concerns over the security of donations at religious places.
The alleged theft at Ambaji Temple came to light in April after CCTV footage reportedly showed an employee stealing cash from the temple’s donation collection. The incident has angered devotees, who are demanding strict action against those involved.
According to the investigation, the main accused, Chirag Thakor, was captured on CCTV on April 21 allegedly hiding bundles of currency notes during the counting process. On May 7, he allegedly concealed another bundle containing ₹1.04 lakh in his pocket before leaving the counting room on the pretext of using the washroom.
Based on a complaint filed by the Additional Collector of Banaskantha, the Ambaji Police Station registered a case and arrested three accused. They have since been granted bail by the court.
Following the incident, the Arasuri Ambaji Devasthan Trust and the Banaskantha district administration introduced stricter security measures. Class IV and outsourced employees have been removed from the donation counting process, around 20 additional CCTV cameras have been installed in the treasury room, and the counting process is now shown live on LED screens within the temple premises.
The administration has also introduced weekly inspections, mandatory attendance records for staff, and restrictions on overnight stays without permission.
The temple had earlier been in the news in 2023 over a controversy surrounding the replacement of the traditional Mohanthal prasad with chikki. After public protests and government intervention, the temple resumed offering Mohanthal along with chikki.