In a shocking incident that has stirred outrage among devotees and officials alike, a government bank employee was arrested for allegedly stealing donation money during a cash-counting session at the revered Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening and involved Abhinav Saxena, an officer employed at the Canara Bank branch in Dampier Nagar, Mathura.
Caught in the Act on CCTV
According to information released by the Vrindavan police, Abhinav Saxena was part of a team sent by the bank to assist in counting donations made by worshippers at the temple.
The temple’s donation system involves around 16 ‘daan patras’ or donation boxes strategically placed within the temple complex, where thousands of devotees offer cash during their visits.
These offerings are periodically collected, counted, and deposited into the official accounts of the temple trust.
As per temple committee protocols, the donation money is counted once or twice a month. For this purpose, the temple trust sends formal letters to their associated bank branches, requesting the deputation of two bank employees to assist with the cash counting.
Four days before the incident, such a letter was sent to the Canara Bank branch located at Vidyapeeth Crossing in Vrindavan. In response, the bank nominated Abhinav Saxena and another employee to undertake the task.
However, during the routine counting session on Saturday evening, a vigilant employee of the temple trust—tasked with monitoring the CCTV cameras installed at the counting room—noticed something suspicious.
Live footage revealed Saxena discreetly stealing bundles of currency notes while appearing to participate in the counting process. The trust official immediately alerted senior members of the temple management.
Immediate Action and Recovery of Stolen Cash
Jagmohan, a senior office-bearer of the temple managing committee, recounted the sequence of events: “We received information from our surveillance monitoring team that one of the bank officials engaged in counting the money was stealing cash. A few of us immediately rushed to the scene and confronted him.”
Upon reaching the spot, temple officials searched for Abhinav Saxena. They found cash amounting to approximately ₹1.26 lakh concealed within his clothing.
Alarmed by the discovery, the temple authorities reported the incident to the Vrindavan police, who swiftly took Saxena into custody.
Further investigation and a search at Saxena’s workplace at the Canara Bank branch in Dampier Nagar, Mathura, led to the recovery of an additional ₹8 lakh. In total, more than ₹9 lakh in stolen cash was recovered from the accused.
Prashant Kapil, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Vrindavan police station, confirmed the recovery and provided further details. “The accused, Abhinav Saxena, is a resident of the Rampur district. During questioning, he confessed to having stolen the money over three days.
We are currently probing whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger conspiracy involving others.”
The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) following a formal complaint submitted by a member of the temple trust committee.
The charges include theft and breach of trust. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of other individuals being involved in the operation and have indicated that further interrogation and evidence gathering are underway.
In the wake of the incident, Canara Bank took immediate action by suspending Saxena from service. A departmental inquiry has also been launched to investigate the matter internally and determine whether there were any lapses or oversights in protocol that enabled the theft.
Background of the Accused
Abhinav Saxena had been previously posted at the Vrindavan branch of Canara Bank from 2020 to 2024, before being transferred to the Mathura branch.
According to the police, he married last year; his wife is reportedly a chartered accountant. No evidence has yet emerged indicating her involvement or knowledge of the crime.
The incident has caused considerable distress among devotees and raised concerns about the transparency and security of the donation collection process at religious institutions.
The temple, one of the most popular and spiritually significant sites in Vrindavan, attracts thousands of pilgrims every week, many of whom make generous monetary offerings as a mark of devotion.
That such donations were allegedly misappropriated by a bank official entrusted with their safekeeping has led to widespread outrage.
Temple authorities have vowed to strengthen their internal monitoring mechanisms and called for stricter background verification and accountability from partner financial institutions.
Discussions are also underway to potentially install more advanced surveillance systems and enforce more stringent procedures during future donation counts.
As investigations continue, both the public and the temple management await further disclosures and hope for exemplary action to be taken against those responsible.