Ram Temple Donation Probe: Police Obtain Custody of Accused for Cash Recovery

Ayodhya Police have secured 24-hour custody of Avinash Shukla, one of eight individuals arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple. The custody was granted on Thursday, following a court order that allowed police to question Shukla and seek recovery of cash believed to be linked to the case.

During a search of Shukla's residence, police recovered approximately Rs 20.39 lakh in Indian currency, including over 3,000 notes in Rs 500 denomination, as well as USD 1,121 in various denominations. The recovery was made after fresh searches at his home, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Police told the court that they require Shukla's custody to take him to locations where additional cash may be recovered. A senior police officer involved in the probe stated that the court had earlier permitted interrogation of Shukla inside the jail to corroborate the recovery of cash by the temple trustees and verify details about his duties. Following this verification, police filed an application seeking his custody.

Authorities are believed to be taking Shukla to his native village, Babupur, in Pratapgarh district, and later to Kaushalpuri locality in Ayodhya, where he lived with his elder brother, Amit, a teacher.

In total, police have arrested eight individuals in connection with the alleged embezzlement. The other accused are Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav (alias Tinnu Yadav), and Subhash Srivastav. According to investigators, Ram Shankar Yadav, who is considered close to Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Temple Trust, used his influence to recruit his nephew Manish for the cash-counting job. The other accused allegedly obtained similar roles with the help of trustee Anil Mishra.

On Monday, all eight were remanded to 14-day judicial custody. Police have broadened the investigation to examine whether any of the accused or their relatives recently acquired properties or vehicles, as they attempt to trace the stolen funds. Bank accounts of the accused and their close associates are also under scrutiny.

Additionally, police plan to question the owner and director of a Varanasi-based company hired by the State Bank of India to manage the cash-counting process.

Meanwhile, families of the accused have maintained their innocence, stating that the arrested individuals did not display any sudden or unexplained increase in wealth. Raj Kumar Yadav, nephew of Ram Shankar Yadav, dismissed the theft allegations as “false propaganda,” adding that his uncle's last property purchase was a hostel in 2008.

After initially searching the homes of all eight accused on Sunday, police revisited the residences of Lavkush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra on Wednesday to record statements from family members and question them about documents and materials seized earlier. Sources said relatives were unable to provide significant information about the recovered items or the accused's movements and associations.

The investigation continues as authorities seek to establish the full extent of the alleged embezzlement.