Ayodhya Ram Temple donation case: SIT chargesheet details 105 cash-removal incidents

The alleged diversion of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya took place while cash was being counted, stated the nearly 70,000-page chargesheet submitted by the Supreme Court-directed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

According to investigators, the money was taken from the counting facility and later hidden and passed on among people involved in the alleged scheme.

Cites 105 cash-removal incidents

The chargesheet records 105 incidents in which cash was removed from the counting area. CCTV footage forms a central part of the material cited by investigators. The case file also includes thousands of recovered text messages, along with cash and valuables taken into police custody during the investigation.

Eight people have been named as accused: Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla alias Shani, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu and Subhash Srivastava. All eight are in judicial custody.

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and construction in-charge Gopal Rao have not been charged in the case. The chargesheet lists all three as prosecution witnesses.

SIT details evidence in donation case

The case was registered on June 25 after trust member Krishna Mohan complained about alleged irregularities in the handling of donations. The SIT says its findings were based on CCTV footage, digital records, witness accounts, banking records and a forensic audit. It found no evidence that money was pilfered after the counted cash was sent to banks.

Investigators allege that Anukalp Mishra was the main conspirator. More than 3,000 deleted messages were recovered from the phones of the accused, with conversations allegedly concerning the removal, concealment, movement and distribution of cash.

On alleged cash removals

The chargesheet attributes alleged cash-removal incidents to several accused, including 85 involving Avinash Shukla, 56 involving Anukalp Mishra, 68 involving Karunesh Pandey and 52 involving Lavkush Mishra.

Police recovered about Rs 79.85 lakh allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement from seven accused. Individual recoveries included cash, foreign currency, gold and silver items. Investigators also traced bank transactions, property deals, vehicles and other assets.

The SIT checked 803 valuable articles recorded in the trust's software and found no discrepancies. It also verified 86 articles without receipts.

'Former driver had counting-room access'

The chargesheet stated that Ram Shankar Yadav, a former driver of Champat Rai, allegedly had access to the counting room and donation-box keys despite holding no formal temple post.

Police have dropped some offences initially considered against the accused. The eight accused are due before the court on October 7.

(With agency inputs)