All Eight Accused Arrested in Ram Temple Donation Scam Case

New Delhi, June 26 : In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities involving donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, police have arrested all eight individuals named in a First Information Report (FIR), officials confirmed on June 26.

According to senior police officials, the accused were taken into custody following coordinated action carried out late Thursday night in Ayodhya. Authorities said all those named in the FIR were already present in the city at the time of the arrests and are currently being interrogated as part of the ongoing investigation.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint submitted by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The case stems from allegations of misappropriation of cash and valuables received as donations at the temple, a matter that had first surfaced earlier this month.

Officials stated that the FIR was registered after preliminary findings submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government. The SIT was formed on June 13 following a request from the Trust to examine the alleged irregularities in the donation handling process.

Those arrested have been identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramshankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav. All of them were reportedly associated in various capacities with the counting and management of cash and offerings received at the temple premises.

Investigators said Subhash Chandra Srivastava was in charge of supervising staff involved in cash counting, while others were engaged in handling donations and valuables. The accused are being questioned to determine their exact roles and the extent of their involvement in the alleged financial discrepancies.

Police have registered the case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to theft by a servant, criminal breach of trust, handling stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Officials confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway and the accused will be produced before a magistrate.

The controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement emerged on June 7 and quickly gained political attention after being raised by opposition leaders. The issue escalated further following public statements and demands for action from various political and social groups, leading to increased scrutiny of the temple’s donation management system.

In response, the Uttar Pradesh government set up a three member SIT headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant. The team conducted a preliminary probe and submitted its findings on June 23, which formed the basis for the FIR filed on June 25.

Officials described the SIT’s recommendations as strong and comprehensive, prompting swift action by law enforcement agencies. Authorities also indicated that the state leadership is closely monitoring the investigation and has directed strict action against anyone found guilty.

Meanwhile, political reactions continue to emerge, with opposition parties questioning the scope of the investigation and alleging that accountability has not been extended to senior functionaries associated with the Trust. Some leaders have termed the FIR inadequate, while the controversy continues to draw public and political attention.

As the investigation progresses, police say further questioning and evidence collection will determine the next course of action in the high-profile case involving one of the country’s most prominent religious institutions.