Ayodhya, July 7: The Ayodhya court has reserved its decision on a police plea seeking seven-day custody of three accused—Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey—in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
Ayodhya Police informed the court that custodial interrogation of the accused was essential for advancing the investigation. The request followed the questioning of five accused inside jail on Sunday, during which investigators reportedly obtained crucial information leading to the custody application.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), in its preliminary report submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government, found prima facie evidence of theft and pilferage during the counting of temple donations. The inquiry reviewed CCTV footage, bank records, statements of trust officials, security personnel, counting staff, and other relevant documents.
According to the SIT, CCTV footage from April 27 to June 5 showed several counting staff allegedly concealing bundles of cash and loose currency in their clothes, pockets, and shoes. The report documented around 70 instances of suspected theft or pilferage during the period under review and indicated that similar incidents may have occurred earlier, though the absence of older CCTV footage prevented verification.
The investigation also found serious lapses in security measures, including ineffective implementation of frisking, biometric attendance, restrictions on personal belongings, and CCTV monitoring as mandated under the Trust’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The SIT named six individuals—Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra—as having prima facie involvement in the case. While Avinash Shukla and Manish Kumar Yadav were allegedly seen repeatedly removing or concealing cash, the others were accused of assisting or participating in similar activities.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced that the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra had been accepted during a recent Trust meeting, according to Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj.
