Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft: Avinash Shukla named prime accused

Avinash Shukla, who was engaged in counting devotees’ cash offerings at the Ayodhya Ram temple, has reportedly been identified as the prime accused in the donation theft case.

The interim findings of the three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) were discussed during a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday (July 6), news agency PTI reported citing sources associated with the temple.

The preliminary SIT report has linked Shukla to the suspected 40-day racket involving nearly 70 instances of pilferage from the donation-counting system. According to the report, Shukla has been named accused No. 1 after investigators found “the strongest evidence trail” against him.

Avinash Shukla ‘focal point’ of probe

The report said the alleged operation revolved around Shukla, helping investigators identify five other accused and reconstruct the suspected modus operandi inside the temple’s counting room.

Also read: Ayodhya scam breaks Modi’s ‘Hindu Vatican’ dreams, raises BJP’s stakes in UP

The nine-page report, submitted to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad on June 23, has reportedly described the 30-year-old as the focal point of the investigation.

The SIT has, prima facie, identified nearly 70 instances of alleged theft from the temple’s counting room over around 40 days.

CCTV footage evidence

According to the PTI report, repeated examination of CCTV camera footage allegedly showed Shukla removing and concealing bundles of donation cash and loose currency notes during counting operations on multiple occasions.

Investigators are said to have relied extensively on the footage to trace the movement of money and identify the alleged roles of other participants.

The report said the evidence against Shukla was corroborated by CCTV camera footage, recovery records, bank account analysis, and witness statements, making him the first among six accused whose prima facie involvement has reportedly been established.

Prima facie involvement of accused established

The footage also allegedly showed Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey assisting Shukla in concealing and removing donation money, while Manish Kumar Yadav allegedly coordinated with him inside the counting room.

Also read: Ayodhya theft: ‘Trust meet a sham, does little to restore confidence’ | AI With Sanket

Separate footage provided by representatives of the temple trust allegedly showed Rama Shankar Mishra handling and concealing cash bundles.

Based on the material examined so far, the SIT has reportedly concluded that the prima facie involvement of all six accused stands established.

Cash, jewellery recoveries

The probe has since extended beyond the CCTV footage. During searches conducted by the Ayodhya police, investigators recovered Rs 20.39 lakh in cash, USD 1,121, gold and silver ornaments, other valuables and an SUV from Shukla’s possession—the largest recovery from any accused arrested in the case, according to the report.

Investigators have also reportedly found cash deposits and bank transactions allegedly disproportionate to Shukla’s known income.

The report noted that personnel hired by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for counting donations receive a monthly take-home salary of a little over Rs 15,000 after deductions, whereas Shukla’s banking activity prior to his arrest was substantially higher than his known earnings.

Donation box recovered

Eight people have so far been arrested in connection with the case—Avinash, Anukalp, Lavkush, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Rama Shankar alias Tinnu.

Shukla was the first to be taken into police remand during the investigation. During searches at his residence, police recovered a donation box bearing the inscription “Ramrajya Kosh” with an active QR code affixed to it.

Also read: Ram Temple SIT report: 70 thefts caught on CCTV; probe widens to consecration ceremony spending

Police have also searched his native residence in Pratapgarh district and are examining his properties there, besides scrutinising his financial transactions and cash holdings over the last few years, sources added.

According to police, recoveries exceeding Rs 79 lakh have so far been made from the accused, except Subhash, who investigators continue to treat as part of the alleged conspiracy.

The probe so far

On Monday, a local court granted a one-day police remand of Anukalp, Lavkush and Karunesh after investigators told the court that fresh evidence had emerged during the interrogation of the five accused, who had earlier been taken into police custody.

The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the three-member SIT to investigate the case that came to light following allegations of theft of devotees’ donations from the Ram Temple. The probe has since expanded beyond the original FIR.

Also read: Ram mandir donation scam: Survey on 2027 poll leaves BJP and RSS jittery

The team has also ordered a re-audit of the trust’s accounts for the last five years and is examining expenditure incurred on major events over the last two years. The SIT is also examining the role of officials responsible for supervising the donation-counting process.

It has flagged alleged security and procedural lapses in the temple’s donation management system, including inadequate frisking of personnel, poor CCTV monitoring and weak supervisory mechanisms, which investigators believe enabled the alleged repeated removal of cash without immediate detection.

(With agency inputs)