Ayodhya donation case widens as police tighten investigation into accused
A day earlier, investigators questioned Avinash Shukla inside Ayodhya jail, taking the donation theft probe a significant step forward.
- Police sought two‑day custody remand for Avinash Shukla.
- Shukla questioned in jail and reportedly named some trust officials.
- Eight arrests so far; some accused are related to trust members.
- Fresh raids at homes of Shukla, Lavkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey.
- Total cash recovered earlier: ₹79,85,493; ~₹20.40 lakh linked to Shukla.
- Investigations focusing on donation collection, record‑keeping and disbursement.
Ayodhya — Police on Wednesday moved to obtain a two‑day custody remand for Avinash Shukla, whose properties yielded the largest cash haul in the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donation collections. The application was filed in the court of Additional District Judge (Anti‑Corruption) Rajat Varma, officials said.
The development follows intensified questioning of suspects in the case. A person familiar with the interrogation said Shukla named several trust officials during questioning, although police have not disclosed the identities of those referred to in his statement.
So far eight men have been arrested in connection with the probe: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav ‘Tinnu’, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Rama Shankar Mishra and Karunesh Pandey. Police notes and enquiries show a web of family and professional links among the accused: Anukalp and Lavkush Mishra are related to each other and connected to trust member Anil Mishra, who resigned last week alongside trust general secretary Champat Rai. Ram Shankar Yadav is described by investigators as an aide of Rai; Manish Yadav is also related within that circle.
In a fresh round of searches, officers conducted raids at residences linked to three of the accused — Avinash Shukla, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey — seeking documents and other material evidence. Investigators also asked Champat Rai for more details about temple staff and how collections were managed, signalling a broader effort to trace money flows and organisational responsibility.
The cash recoveries that triggered the probe were substantial. Last week, police reported they had seized a total of ₹79,85,493 from the eight detained men. The largest single recovery, about ₹20.40 lakh, was found at properties associated with Avinash Shukla, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. Of that, approximately ₹12 lakh was recovered from a room linked to Shukla, while another ₹8.4 lakh was reportedly returned by his brother to the trust last week.
Authorities say the inquiry focuses on alleged irregularities in how donations meant for the Ram Temple were collected, recorded and disbursed. Police have not yet filed formal charges related to specific financial offences; the custody application for Shukla appears aimed at allowing further questioning and the collection of evidence from his premises.
Trust officials have reacted with a mix of cooperation and distance. Some key figures have resigned amid the controversy, and the trust has said it will assist law enforcement while asserting that any wrongdoing, if proven, will be addressed. Meanwhile, local sentiment in Ayodhya is tense: devotees and residents are watching developments closely, and leaders from different quarters have called for a transparent, speedy probe.
As the investigation proceeds, the immediate next step will be the court’s decision on the police plea for custodial remand. If granted, investigators will have a short window to question Shukla in custody and pursue lines of inquiry that may include examining electronic devices, financial documents and witness testimony.