SIT probe names Avinash Shukla as prime accused in Ram Temple donation theft case
A preliminary SIT report has identified Avinash Shukla as the prime accused in the alleged theft of devotees' donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, linking six people to a suspected 40-day pilferage operation.
A preliminary report by a Special Investigation Team has identified Avinash Shukla as the prime accused in the alleged theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, linking him to a suspected 40-day operation involving nearly 70 instances of pilferage from the donation-counting system, sources said.
The interim findings of the three-member SIT were discussed at a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday. The nine-page report, submitted to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad on June 23, described Shukla, 30, as the focal point of the investigation and said the alleged operation revolved around him.
According to the preliminary report, Shukla, who was engaged to count devotees' cash offerings at the temple, was named accused number one after investigators found what they described as the strongest evidence trail against him. The report said this helped investigators identify five other accused and reconstruct the suspected modus operandi inside the temple's counting room.
Sources said repeated examination of CCTV footage allegedly showed Shukla removing and concealing bundles of donation cash and loose currency notes during counting operations on several occasions.
Investigators relied extensively on the footage to trace the movement of money and identify the alleged roles of others. The report said the evidence against him was supported by CCTV footage, recovery records, bank account analysis and witness statements.
The footage also allegedly showed Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey assisting Shukla in concealing and removing donation money, while Manish Kumar Yadav was allegedly coordinating with him inside the counting room, according to sources.
Separate footage provided by representatives of the temple trust allegedly showed Rama Shankar Mishra handling and concealing cash bundles. Based on the material examined so far, the SIT has concluded that the prima facie involvement of all six accused stands established, sources said.
The probe went beyond CCTV footage. During searches conducted by Ayodhya police, investigators recovered Rs 20.39 lakh in cash, USD 1,121, gold and silver ornaments, other valuables and an SUV from Shukla's possession, which the report described as the largest recovery from any accused arrested in the case.
Investigators also found cash deposits and bank transactions allegedly disproportionate to his known income. The report noted that personnel hired by the trust for counting donations receive a monthly take-home salary of a little over Rs 15,000 after deductions, while Shukla's banking activity before his arrest was substantially higher than his known earnings.
During searches at his residence, police also recovered a donation box bearing the inscription Ramrajya Kosh with an active QR code affixed to it, sources said. Police have also searched his native residence in Pratapgarh district and are examining his properties there, besides scrutinising his financial transactions and cash holdings over the last few years.
The case came to light following allegations of theft of devotees' donations from the Ram Temple. Eight people have so far been arrested in connection with the case: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Rama Shankar alias Tinnu.
On Monday, a local court granted one-day police remand of Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey after investigators told the court that fresh evidence had emerged during the interrogation of five accused who had earlier been taken into police custody.
According to police, recoveries exceeding Rs 79 lakh have so far been made from the accused, except Subhash Srivastava, who investigators continue to treat as part of the alleged conspiracy.
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted the three-member SIT to investigate the case, and the probe has since expanded beyond the original FIR. The team has ordered a re-audit of the trust's accounts for the last five years and is examining expenditure on major events over the last two years.
It has also flagged alleged security and procedural lapses in the temple's donation management system, including inadequate frisking of personnel, poor CCTV monitoring and weak supervisory mechanisms, and is examining the role of officials responsible for supervising the donation-counting process.
In sum, the preliminary SIT report places Shukla at the centre of the alleged theft of temple offerings, links six accused to the suspected operation, and says the investigation has widened to include financial scrutiny, account re-audits and an examination of security and supervisory lapses in the donation-counting system.
A preliminary report by a Special Investigation Team has identified Avinash Shukla as the prime accused in the alleged theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, linking him to a suspected 40-day operation involving nearly 70 instances of pilferage from the donation-counting system, sources said.
The interim findings of the three-member SIT were discussed at a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday. The nine-page report, submitted to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad on June 23, described Shukla, 30, as the focal point of the investigation and said the alleged operation revolved around him.
According to the preliminary report, Shukla, who was engaged to count devotees' cash offerings at the temple, was named accused number one after investigators found what they described as the strongest evidence trail against him. The report said this helped investigators identify five other accused and reconstruct the suspected modus operandi inside the temple's counting room.
Sources said repeated examination of CCTV footage allegedly showed Shukla removing and concealing bundles of donation cash and loose currency notes during counting operations on several occasions.
Investigators relied extensively on the footage to trace the movement of money and identify the alleged roles of others. The report said the evidence against him was supported by CCTV footage, recovery records, bank account analysis and witness statements.
The footage also allegedly showed Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey assisting Shukla in concealing and removing donation money, while Manish Kumar Yadav was allegedly coordinating with him inside the counting room, according to sources.
Separate footage provided by representatives of the temple trust allegedly showed Rama Shankar Mishra handling and concealing cash bundles. Based on the material examined so far, the SIT has concluded that the prima facie involvement of all six accused stands established, sources said.
The probe went beyond CCTV footage. During searches conducted by Ayodhya police, investigators recovered Rs 20.39 lakh in cash, USD 1,121, gold and silver ornaments, other valuables and an SUV from Shukla's possession, which the report described as the largest recovery from any accused arrested in the case.
Investigators also found cash deposits and bank transactions allegedly disproportionate to his known income. The report noted that personnel hired by the trust for counting donations receive a monthly take-home salary of a little over Rs 15,000 after deductions, while Shukla's banking activity before his arrest was substantially higher than his known earnings.
During searches at his residence, police also recovered a donation box bearing the inscription Ramrajya Kosh with an active QR code affixed to it, sources said. Police have also searched his native residence in Pratapgarh district and are examining his properties there, besides scrutinising his financial transactions and cash holdings over the last few years.
The case came to light following allegations of theft of devotees' donations from the Ram Temple. Eight people have so far been arrested in connection with the case: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Rama Shankar alias Tinnu.
On Monday, a local court granted one-day police remand of Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey after investigators told the court that fresh evidence had emerged during the interrogation of five accused who had earlier been taken into police custody.
According to police, recoveries exceeding Rs 79 lakh have so far been made from the accused, except Subhash Srivastava, who investigators continue to treat as part of the alleged conspiracy.
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted the three-member SIT to investigate the case, and the probe has since expanded beyond the original FIR. The team has ordered a re-audit of the trust's accounts for the last five years and is examining expenditure on major events over the last two years.
It has also flagged alleged security and procedural lapses in the temple's donation management system, including inadequate frisking of personnel, poor CCTV monitoring and weak supervisory mechanisms, and is examining the role of officials responsible for supervising the donation-counting process.
In sum, the preliminary SIT report places Shukla at the centre of the alleged theft of temple offerings, links six accused to the suspected operation, and says the investigation has widened to include financial scrutiny, account re-audits and an examination of security and supervisory lapses in the donation-counting system.
