Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage recovered from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has reportedly revealed at least five of the eight accused allegedly stealing donated funds during the cash-counting process. According to police sources, footage spanning 45 days from the temple’s Pilgrim Facility Centre shows counting personnel removing bundles of cash and concealing them inside their clothes and socks while handling donation money.
The investigation has also raised questions about the recruitment of the counting staff. The agency that supplied the personnel has claimed it did not independently recruit the accused, stating that the names were recommended by the State Bank of India (SBI), where the temple’s donated funds are deposited. Police have since conducted searches at locations linked to the accused and recovered nearly ₹80 lakh believed to be connected to the alleged theft.
The case was registered on June 25 following a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Police arrested eight individuals in connection with the alleged embezzlement, including Avinash Shukla, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, and Subhash Srivastava. Investigators said Tinnu Yadav is the former driver of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, while Manish Yadav is his nephew. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue examining financial records and CCTV evidence.
