Ram Temple Donation Row: Rs 58 Lakh Recovered Before FIR Filed In Theft Case
Ram Temple Donation Row: Rs 58 Lakh Recovered Before FIR Filed In Theft Case Published By, Last Updated: June 29, 2026, 11:51 IST The alleged
Ram Temple Donation Row: Rs 58 Lakh Recovered Before FIR Filed In Theft Case Published By, Last Updated: June 29, 2026, 11:51 IST The alleged recovery took place before a formal complaint was registered, making the timeline a key focus of the ongoing investigation. Rapid Read The controversy erupted earlier this month after allegations surfaced that large sums from devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple were missing. (File) Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Fresh details have emerged in the case of alleged irregularities in donations made at the Ramjanmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, with sources claiming that Temple Trust officials have recovered neraly Rs 58 lakh from an accused’s residence before a formal FIR was registered in the case, India Today reported. As per the report, citing sources, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust first received information about the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations on June 4. After carrying out an internal verification, the Trust reportedly moved quickly to trace the missing money. Sources said that on June 5, Trust representatives, acting on the instructions of then General Secretary Champat Rai, accompanied police personnel to the residence of accused Avinash Shukla.
During the visit, around Rs 58 lakh was allegedly recovered. According to sources, the remaining amount was returned by the accused through bank transfers between June 5 and June 8. The alleged recovery took place before a formal complaint was registered, making the timeline a key focus of the ongoing investigation. According to sources, allegations of donation theft came into public domain on June 7, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter on June 13. Investigators are now examining why the recovery process allegedly began before the registration of a formal complaint and whether all legal procedures were followed during the initial response. Earlier, CCTV footage linked to the operation surfaced, showing accused Avinash Shukla being escorted by police personnel while carrying a black bag believed to contain the recovered cash. However, the authenticity of the footage and the claims regarding the sequence of events have not been independently verified. The SIT probe later led to the arrest of eight accused in the case.
Police also conducted raids at multiple locations and recovered money allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement. The accused are currently in judicial custody while investigators continue to examine the money trail and the alleged larger conspiracy. What’s The Row? The case centres on allegations that cash and valuables donated to the temple may have been misappropriated. Questions have been raised over the handling of 70 kg of silver, 1,250 kg of gold, Rs 200 crore in cash and other donated items, including offerings linked to Lord Ram’s idol and sacred padukas. The donation row has triggered sharp political reactions. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that some people were “filling their pockets" and claimed a fresh layer of the controversy had emerged involving the alleged disappearance of a silver slab donated by the Sindhi community, along with gold bricks and jewellery. The controversy also led to changes within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down as scrutiny over the handling of donations intensified.
The BriefWire