All Eight Accused Arrested in Ram Temple Donation Embezzlement Case

All eight individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have been arrested, marking a significant development in the high-profile case. The arrests were carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Police following the registration of an FIR based on the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was constituted to probe allegations of financial irregularities in the handling of temple donations.

The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the administration of the temple. According to investigators, the accused were entrusted with counting and managing cash and valuables donated by devotees but allegedly siphoned off a portion of the offerings over an extended period.

Those arrested have been identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu. Police officials confirmed that all eight were apprehended in Ayodhya during a coordinated operation and have since been taken into custody for questioning.

The FIR invokes multiple provisions of the law, including charges related to theft, criminal breach of trust, receiving or concealing stolen property, criminal conspiracy, and acts committed with common intention. The complaint also names several unidentified individuals, suggesting that investigators suspect the involvement of others in the alleged misappropriation.

Following the arrests, police began examining financial records, donation registers, CCTV footage, and the procedures followed for counting and depositing offerings made by devotees. Investigators are also questioning the accused to establish how the alleged embezzlement was carried out, the amount of money involved, and whether additional individuals played a role in the operation.

The case has attracted nationwide attention because of the religious and cultural significance of the Ram Temple, which receives substantial donations from devotees across India. Authorities have stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that further action will depend on evidence gathered during the probe. The accused are expected to be produced before a magistrate as the legal proceedings continue.