'Ram temple donations siphoned off inside counting room', SIT chargesheet flags 105 instances

Donations made at the Ram temple in Ayodhya were allegedly siphoned off during the cash-counting process itself, with a network of people removing, concealing and subsequently distributing the money, according to the voluminous chargesheet filed by the Supreme Court-mandated Special Investigation Team. Investigators have cited 105 instances of alleged unauthorised removal or concealment of cash captured on CCTV cameras, along with recovered mobile-phone messages, witness statements, banking records and a forensic audit.

The chargesheet names eight 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 of whom 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 named as accused and have instead been cited as prosecution witnesses.

105 instances caught on CCTV

The investigation has focused primarily on the facility where cash offerings were counted. The SIT said its examination of CCTV footage identified 105 instances in which currency was allegedly removed or concealed, with investigators cross-checking the footage against digital evidence, witness accounts and financial records.

According to the chargesheet, Avinash Shukla was allegedly involved in removing donation money on 85 occasions. Investigators have alleged that Anukalp Mishra assisted in 56 instances, Karunesh Pandey in 68 and Lavkush Mishra in 52, with some of the alleged acts overlapping as multiple accused were purportedly involved in the same incidents.

Crucially, the SIT said it found no evidence that money was stolen during the subsequent transfer of counted cash to banks. The investigation therefore places the alleged diversion inside the counting operation rather than at the stage when the money left the temple for deposit.

3,000 deleted messages recovered

Police have described Anukalp Mishra as the principal conspirator and alleged that he remained in contact with relative Lavkush Mishra and Avinash Shukla through mobile-phone messages. Investigators claim to have recovered more than 3,000 deleted messages from phones belonging to the accused.

The conversations allegedly discussed the removal, concealment, transportation and distribution of money taken from temple offerings. The SIT has treated these communications as part of the digital evidence supporting its allegation of a coordinated conspiracy rather than isolated acts by individuals.

Investigators also followed the suspected money trail through bank accounts, properties, vehicles and other assets belonging to the accused and their relatives. The financial investigation was used alongside CCTV footage and mobile data to reconstruct how the alleged proceeds were handled after leaving the counting facility.

Rs 79.85 lakh recovered

Police recovered Rs 79.85 lakh allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement from seven of the eight accused, with no such recovery reported from Srivastava. The seizures included Rs 16.82 lakh from Anukalp Mishra, around Rs 14.25 lakh from Lavkush Mishra, Rs 20.39 lakh and $1,121 from Avinash Shukla, Rs 7.32 lakh from Ramashankar Mishra, Rs 18.07 lakh from Karunesh Pandey and Rs 2 lakh from Manish Yadav.

Gold and silver articles were also allegedly recovered from some of the accused. Investigators examined deposits and withdrawals from bank accounts as well as property transactions, vehicles and other assets as part of their effort to establish the alleged financial trail.

The SIT separately examined valuables donated to the temple and physically verified 803 articles recorded in the trust’s software, finding no discrepancies. Another 86 valuable articles for which receipts had not been issued were also physically checked, while silver bricks, other silver articles and material sent for melting were scrutinised during the investigation.

Driver’s alleged access examined

The chargesheet has detailed the alleged influence of Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, who worked as Champat Rai’s driver but did not hold a formal position in the temple administration. Investigators have alleged that Tinnu nevertheless had access to the donation-counting room and possessed keys to donation boxes.

The SIT has also alleged that he exercised influence over some internal arrangements, including opening the entry gate for goods vehicles, issuing instructions to personnel and facilitating VIP darshan. CCTV footage, witness statements and digital communications have been cited by investigators in support of these allegations.

His alleged possession of donation-box keys became particularly significant as investigators reconstructed the movement of offerings from the boxes to the counting facility. The chargesheet, however, does not name Rai as an accused, and his role in the trust and functioning of the donation-counting system was examined as part of the investigation.

Trust officials listed as witnesses

Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao are among the prosecution witnesses, with the chargesheet listing 133 witnesses. Rai and Anil Mishra have since resigned from their respective positions in the trust.

The SIT also examined the role of two bank employees who had figured in the preliminary investigation but were ultimately not named as accused. Bank personnel assigned to the counting operation were required to work on a rotational basis, while officials were responsible for ensuring that those participating in the exercise wore prescribed uniforms.

The investigation examined whether shortcomings in these arrangements contributed to the alleged diversion. The two employees, however, have not been charged.

Eight accused face trial

The case was registered on June 25 following a complaint by trust member Krishna Mohan after a preliminary SIT inquiry into alleged irregularities in the handling of donations. The chargesheet was subsequently filed before the anti-corruption court in Ayodhya within the statutory period following the arrests.

Seven accused face charges including criminal breach of trust, receiving or retaining stolen property, assisting in concealing or disposing of stolen property and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges against Srivastava differ slightly, with the provision relating to receiving or retaining stolen property dropped in his case.

The court has directed that copies of the chargesheet and necessary documents be supplied to all eight accused, who are scheduled to appear on October 7. The allegations remain to be tested at trial, where the prosecution will have to establish its case through witnesses, digital material, CCTV footage, financial records and other evidence, while the accused will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence and present their defence.