The Ayodhya Police have widened the investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation theft by examining land holdings and bank records of the accused to determine whether any assets were acquired using money linked to the crime.
The latest phase of the probe focuses on the financial trail behind the alleged embezzlement. Investigators are verifying when properties were purchased and whether those transactions took place after the accused became associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. If so, officials may examine whether those assets qualify as “proceeds of crime”, according to sources.
Land purchases under verification
Police have sought details of land owned by the accused and their family members from the Revenue Department.
Sources said records relating to nearly 20 land parcels have already been received and are being verified. Investigators are comparing the purchase dates with the period during which the accused were linked to the temple trust.
The financial scrutiny comes a day after police seized a vehicle allegedly belonging to prime accused Avinash Shukla after classifying it as a “proceeds of crime” asset.
Investigators reconstruct alleged cash distribution
During police remand, Shukla was taken to a location near Ayodhya’s 14-Kosi Parikrama route, where investigators said he identified the place where the stolen donation money was allegedly divided among the accused.
According to sources, eight accused, including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Kamlesh Pandey and Tinu Yadav, allegedly assembled there after the theft to distribute the cash.
Police questioned Shukla at the spot, where he is said to have reconstructed the sequence of events and explained how the money was allegedly shared.
Investigators also recovered an undisclosed valuable item from the same location after Shukla’s disclosure. Officials have not revealed what was recovered but believe it could strengthen the prosecution’s case.
The probe team is now examining whether additional valuables or evidence remain concealed and is verifying statements recorded during remand.
Eight arrested after FIR
Eight people have been arrested in the case.
The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on a complaint by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Those named include Ramshankar Yadav, Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra and Avinash Shukla, along with retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava.
The case was registered after a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) flagged multiple irregularities in its preliminary findings.
Calls for fair probe as political reactions intensify
Former Ram Lalla litigant Mahant Dharmdas welcomed the decision to extend the SIT investigation by 15 days and said he had faith that the inquiry would be impartial. He also demanded that the Ram Mandir Trust be dissolved and that assets donated to the temple be registered in the name of the deity.
“The investigation the SIT is conducting will take time. This is no trivial matter. The Ram Janmabhoomi issue is a matter of faith,” he told ANI.
Family members of one of the accused also sought an impartial investigation.
Sadhana Mishra, sister-in-law of accused Ramashankar Mishra, alleged that “big people” were being shielded while lower-level employees were being implicated. She claimed the family had not been in contact with him for more than two-and-a-half years and urged investigators to identify the “real culprit” through a fair probe.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said those found guilty would face action and alleged that the incident had hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Opposition leaders also stepped up their criticism.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of betraying both Lord Ram and the Constitution, while senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged misuse of temple donations and said he would approach a court seeking the return of his contribution.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has maintained that it supports a fair investigation and is committed to preserving the faith of devotees.