Raid, cash recovery took place before Ram Mandir theft allegations went public
Fresh details have emerged in the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft case, with sources claiming that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had learnt
Fresh details have emerged in the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft case, with sources claiming that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had learnt about the suspected misappropriation days before the matter became public. As per the sources, representatives of the Trust, acting on the instructions of General Secretary Champat Rai, accompanied police to the residence of one of the accused, Avinash Shukla, on June 5. Sources claimed that cash was recovered during the search, indicating that the matter had already come to the attention of the police. Read Full Story However, despite the search operation, the Trust did not lodge a formal complaint with the police at the time. Sources further alleged that the June 5 action was carried out informally and was not based on an officially registered FIR. The alleged theft came into the public domain only on June 7, triggering widespread attention and raising questions over the delay in initiating formal legal proceedings. CCTV FOOTAGE SHOWS ACCUSED WITH BLACK BAG FULL OF CASH Meanwhile, CCTV footage purportedly linked to the incident has also surfaced. In the 24-second clip, police personnel are seen escorting Avinash Shukla – one of the eight accused – towards a white vehicle after taking him into custody.
The footage also shows him carrying a black bag, which, according to sources, contained the cash allegedly recovered during the search. The authenticity of the CCTV footage and the claims surrounding the sequence of events have not been independently verified. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement addressing the alleged delay between the initial police action and the registration of the case. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged financial irregularities had, previously, reportedly uncovered multiple lapses in the management of offerings at the Ayodhya shrine. According to sources, the probe found deficiencies in cash handling, employee verification and CCTV monitoring. The State Bank of India, which manages donations, is also under scrutiny over personnel hired through a private agency, with some appointments allegedly linked to trust officials. The investigation has further expanded to examine land purchases and procurement related to temple construction. The SIT has submitted its findings to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Ayodhya Police on Sunday carried out simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight people arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple, according to police sources. Search operations were conducted by police teams accompanied by local magistrates at the homes of the accused, including Lav Kush Mishra, Avinash Shukla and Ramashankar Yadav.
The BriefWire