The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ram Temple donation theft in Ayodhya has traced stolen funds to stock market investments, high-interest loans, and bank accounts of relatives. Accused Anukalp Mishra and Avinash admitted to these transactions during questioning.
Investigators suspect the embezzled money was routed through family and associate accounts to obscure its origin before being transferred back. Police have frozen 30 such accounts after detecting transactions inconsistent with the holders' known income.
SIT recovers assets and documents in Ram Temple theft case
Searches at the residences of Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey yielded cash, gold jewelry, a car, and land purchase documents. Mishra’s one-acre plot, bought for Rs 6.7 lakh, is now valued significantly higher.
The probe follows discrepancies found in June during the counting of temple donations. The Uttar Pradesh government formed the SIT after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust recommended an investigation.
Leadership changes amid Ram Temple embezzlement probe
An FIR was registered after prima facie evidence of embezzlement emerged, leading to eight arrests. Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra resigned, while Gopal Rao was relieved of duties. None of the three are named in the FIR, though opposition groups demand accountability.
Krishna Mohan, a former Indian Forest Service officer who filed the FIR, replaced Rai as General Secretary. The SIT continues its investigation into the financial irregularities.
