SynopsisState Bank of India reportedly sought to replace cash-counting staff at the Ayodhya Ram temple three months ago due to suspicions of fund diversion, but the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust allegedly intervened. An FIR was filed, and eight individuals have been arrested following an SIT report, with significant cash and foreign currency seized from several accused.ReutersSBI wanted to change cash-counting staff at Ram temple 3 months ago: SourcesAyodhya: Amid an ongoing row over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple here, sources in the State Bank of India (SBI) said on Monday that the bank wanted to change the cash-counting staff at the shrine three months ago, but the members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust did not allow it to do so.The sources claimed that the bank had a feeling about three months ago that funds were being siphoned off from the donation boxes at the temple and recommended removing the staff from the cash-counting duty.Also read: Ram temple donation row: Ayodhya lawyers boycott accused; demand for CBI probe; SC refuses urgent hearingThe outsourcing agency was even preparing to initiate the removal process, but trust officials allegedly intervened to defend the staff and saved them from being dismissed, they added.The SBI had hired these staff on nominal monthly wages of Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, the sources said.No immediate comment on the matter was available from anyone representing the trust.Earlier in the day, Congress leader Pawan Khera also claimed that the SBI wanted to change the cash-counting staff at the temple three months ago.Talking to reporters in Chhattisgarh's Raipur, Khera said, "Three months ago, the SBI had recommended that those posted at the counting centre be removed. Who has been protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?"The Congress leader also claimed that the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple is only a glimpse and more such cases will follow."Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baki hai (the alleged loot in Ayodhya is only a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura are yet to come)," he said.The sources said many people involved in the temple management, but not the members of the trust, raised questions on several occasions that when the SBI was receiving such huge deposits from the temple on a daily basis, why had it outsourced the work to minimum-wager staff and not posted permanent employees for the counting purpose.Also read: 'Ram ko loota, desh ko loota': Sibal takes dig at BJP on Ram temple donation theftFollowing a report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to look into the allegation of embezzlement of temple donations, an FIR was registered on June 25.Eight accused -- Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav -- were subsequently arrested.According to police, Tinnu Yadav had employed his relative and co-accused, Manish Kumar Yadav, at the temple's cash-counting unit.The sources said nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash, along with some foreign currency, have so far been seized from six of the eight accused. Read More News on...moreless