Ram Temple Trust Recovered Rs 3 Crore Before SIT Probe. Why Did It Peg Retrieval At Rs 80 Lakh Then?

Published 16 July 2026 · india

Ram Temple Trust Recovered Rs 3 Crore Before SIT Probe. Why Did It Peg Retrieval At Rs 80 Lakh Then? Written By, Last Updated: July

Ram Temple Trust Recovered Rs 3 Crore Before SIT Probe. Why Did It Peg Retrieval At Rs 80 Lakh Then? Written By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 08:08 IST Sources claim that after the theft surfaced, Trust officials reviewed CCTV footage, identified suspects and recovered Rs 2.5 crore-Rs 3 crore, well before the SIT was constituted According to the source, showing the entire recovered amount would have inevitably raised larger questions about the scale of the alleged embezzlement. (X) Is the donation theft at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple far bigger than what has officially been disclosed? According to sources familiar with the investigation, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had itself recovered between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore from suspects before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formally began its probe. However, when the recovery was reflected in the police investigation, only around Rs 80 lakh was officially shown as recovered, the sources claimed. The fresh revelations come as the investigation gathers momentum, with police now preparing to seek the custodial remand of the alleged mastermind, Tinnu Yadav, after one of the arrested accused made fresh disclosures during interrogation. Trust Allegedly Recovered Crores Before SIT Probe Sources claim that immediately after the theft surfaced, Trust officials reviewed CCTV footage, identified the suspects and began questioning them. According to the sources, this internal exercise led to the recovery of between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore, well before the Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT. ALSO READ | Ayodhya Donation Row: Accused Admit Duping Devotees With Fake Ram Temple Receipt Books The sources further alleged that the Trust spent nearly a week trying to manage the situation before seeking a formal investigation. “When the SIT took over, only about one-third of the allegedly recovered amount was disclosed," a source claimed. According to the source, showing the entire recovered amount would have inevitably raised larger questions about the scale of the alleged embezzlement.

Sources further claimed that the SIT report itself mentions that the Trust had initiated questioning of suspects and recovered money before the specialised probe commenced. ‘Attempt Was To Recover Money Quietly’ Sources alleged that the intention was to recover the remaining money and quietly close the matter before it attracted wider public attention. ALSO READ | Ayodhya Ram Temple To Get CEO: 3 Reasons Why It May Help With Matters Of Trust & Faith However, once the case became public, the SIT and police allegedly reflected only the amount officially handed over to them by the Trust as recovered cash. Accused Alleges Larger Conspiracy, Names Main Suspects According to sources, accused Subhash Srivastava made several significant claims during police remand. Sources said Subhash allegedly admitted his role in the theft of temple donations and claimed that some Trust office-bearers were already aware of irregularities in the donation collection process. He further alleged that complaints of donation theft had surfaced earlier as well but no action was taken. According to the sources, Subhash claimed that he was assigned counting duty only on days when currency notes were counted and never when coins were being counted, suggesting the assignments were carefully planned. He allegedly told investigators that the entire conspiracy was orchestrated by Tinnu Yadav, Anukalp and Lavkush, and that he had been promised a share of the stolen money once the amount crossed a certain threshold. Subhash also claimed that Tinnu Yadav exercised authority comparable to that of Trust officials, with nobody questioning his instructions inside the donation counting facility. Sources said the interrogation has thrown up the names of several other individuals whose alleged roles are now being examined. Police are expected to seek Tinnu Yadav’s remand for further questioning to verify these claims. Theft Could Exceed Rs 5 Crore Investigators are also scrutinising assets allegedly purchased by the accused during the period when the thefts are believed to have taken place.