A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has identified Avinash Shukla as the prime accused in its preliminary report. The three-member SIT submitted its nine-page report to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad on June 23.

SIT Findings and Evidence

The SIT's interim findings, discussed at a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday, revealed that Shukla, 30, was the focal point of the investigation. The report cited CCTV footage, recovery records, bank account analysis, and witness statements as evidence against him. Repeated examination of CCTV footage allegedly showed Shukla removing and concealing bundles of donation cash and loose currency notes during counting operations.

The investigation has so far linked six accused to the suspected operation, including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Kumar Yadav, and Rama Shankar Mishra. The SIT has concluded that the prima facie involvement of all six accused stands established based on the material examined so far.

Recoveries and Financial Scrutiny

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. The report noted that Shukla's banking activity before his arrest was substantially higher than his known earnings, with personnel hired by the trust for counting donations receiving a monthly take-home salary of a little over Rs 15,000 after deductions.

  • Total recoveries from accused: Rs 79 lakh
  • Cash recovered from Avinash Shukla: Rs 20.39 lakh
  • USD recovered from Avinash Shukla: 1,121

The SIT has expanded its probe beyond the original FIR, ordering a re-audit of the trust's accounts for the last five years and examining expenditure on major events over the last two years. The investigation is also scrutinising the role of officials responsible for supervising the donation-counting process and has flagged alleged security and procedural lapses in the temple's donation management system.