Fresh Claims Raise Questions Over Timeline in Ram Mandir Donation Theft Probe
Fresh details have surfaced in the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft case, with sources claiming that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was aware of the suspected embezzlement at least two days before the matter became public.
According to sources, Trust representatives, acting on the instructions of General Secretary Champat Rai, accompanied police to the residence of accused Avinash Shukla on June 5. During the search, cash was allegedly recovered, suggesting that law enforcement had already initiated action in the case.
However, despite the search, the Trust did not file a formal police complaint that day. Sources further claimed the operation was carried out without a registered FIR, raising questions over why legal proceedings were not immediately initiated.
The alleged theft surfaced publicly only on June 7, triggering widespread attention and scrutiny over the sequence of events. The claims regarding the June 5 search and recovery have not been independently verified, and neither the Trust nor the police has officially commented on the alleged delay.
CCTV Footage Emerges
A CCTV clip purportedly linked to the case has also emerged. The 24-second footage shows police escorting Avinash Shukla, one of the eight accused, towards a white vehicle after taking him into custody. He is seen carrying a black bag, which sources claim contained the cash allegedly recovered during the search.
The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, the first photograph of another accused, Ramashankar Mishra, has also surfaced.
SIT Finds Alleged Lapses
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has reportedly identified several procedural lapses in the handling of temple donations.
According to sources, investigators found deficiencies in cash management, employee verification and CCTV surveillance. The probe has also expanded to examine appointments made through a private agency that supplied personnel to the State Bank of India, which manages the temple’s donation collections. Some of those appointments are alleged to have links to Trust functionaries.
The SIT is also examining land transactions and procurement related to the Ram Temple project. Its findings have been submitted to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Police Step Up Investigation
Ayodhya Police on Sunday conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement. Search operations, carried out in the presence of local magistrates, covered the homes of Avinash Shukla, Lav Kush Mishra, Ramashankar Yadav and others.
The raids came two days after a court remanded all eight accused to judicial custody until June 29. Police are expected to seek custodial remand when they are produced before the court on Monday.
Political Row Escalates
The controversy has intensified political sparring in Uttar Pradesh.
The issue first gained momentum on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cited reports alleging that crores of rupees in temple donations were unaccounted for and called for judicial intervention.
Questioning the state government’s oversight, Akhilesh Yadav asked how the alleged irregularities could have gone unnoticed despite Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s repeated visits to Ayodhya, invoking the proverb, “darkness beneath the lamp.”
Responding to the allegations, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Alok Kumar said no one involved should be spared and called for a transparent investigation. He also accused the Samajwadi Party of politicising the issue ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, while expressing confidence that a swift probe would restore public trust.
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