Ayodhya Ram Mandir Theft Case: Police Questioning Two Key Trust Officials, Another Arrest Likely

Police in Ayodhya, investigating the alleged theft and embezzlement of funds and valuables donated to the Ram temple, are seeking details from Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and trustee Anil Mishra on the duties and responsibilities of eight persons arrested so far in the case.

Rai and Mishra submitted their resignations to the Trust following the registration of an FIR on June 25 and the arrest of Avinash Shukla, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, and Subhash Srivastav. Tinnu Yadav is Rai's former driver. All arrested men are currently in judicial custody.

After obtaining court permission, a police team visited the jail on Tuesday to question Avinash Shukla about the role of the private agency hired by the State Bank of India (SBI) for counting cash and dispatching it to the bank branch. Shukla was recruited by the agency and the bank, an official said. Another arrest is likely soon, the official added.

Rai and Mishra, officials said, were key figures in the administration of the Ram temple and were acquainted with the eight accused. While the Uttar Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already collected details from Rai and Mishra, the police team investigating the case has also been inquiring about the functioning of temple affairs, especially regarding donation boxes on two floors and the persons tasked with monitoring the counting of cash and valuables.

The SBI was responsible for ensuring deposits in the bank branch and keeping the Trust informed. The bank had hired a private agency for counting cash and depositing it, an official said.

According to the official, all eight men were known to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, and investigators are determining how many were recommended by each.

Sources said the Trust relied heavily on a group of informal workers who had access to all parts of the complex, including the room where daily counting occurred. These workers were volunteers paid a monthly retainer and assigned various duties, including counting cash donations. “The system was based more on trust and less on accountability,” a source said. “Since the Trust felt they were offering services round the clock without remuneration, it was decided to engage those interested at a fixed monthly compensation of around Rs 20,000.”

Following the FIR, sources said informal staff may now be restricted to non-cash functions—such as prasad distribution, cooking, queue management, and footwear facilities—while regular staff will be employed for more accountable functions, including cash counting. A specialised agency could also be engaged for cash handling if needed, sources said.

More QR codes will be displayed in the complex to minimise cash contributions. Several other internal systems will also be audited and overhauled, sources added.