Ram Temple donation theft: Police raid homes of all 8 accused in Ayodhya
Synopsis
Eight people linked to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya — including a temple management associate and multiple Trust employees — are in judicial custody over alleged theft of donations and offerings. Police have now raided all their homes, with CCTV evidence and SIT findings pointing to organised misappropriation at one of India's most prominent religious sites.
Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh Police raided the homes of all eight accused in the Ram Mandir donation misappropriation case on 28 June .
The accused were remanded to three-day judicial custody on Friday and will appear before the Ayodhya city court on 30 June .
An FIR was filed at Ayodhya Kotwali based on a complaint by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Krishna Mohan .
A three-member SIT flagged multiple irregularities in its preliminary report, prompting the arrests.
The accused include a temple management associate, six Trust employees, and a retired bank employee; Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu) faces the highest level of scrutiny.
Police say CCTV evidence and interrogation will determine the full scope; further arrests are possible.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday, 28 June conducted searches at the residences of all eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The searches follow the accused being remanded to three-day judicial custody on Friday; they are scheduled to appear before the city court again on Monday, 30 June.
Background of the Case
An FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on Thursday, based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The case was triggered after a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary report.
Those named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu), associated with temple management; Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava. All eight were subsequently arrested after being booked for alleged theft at the temple.
What Police Say
Investigators have stated that the full extent of the alleged theft will be established through interrogation of the accused and CCTV-based evidence. Police have also indicated that if additional names surface during the probe, action will be taken against them as well. The preliminary report has highlighted distinct roles played by each accused at various levels, with the role of Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu) described as being under particularly heightened scrutiny.
Voices from the Neighbourhood
Krishna Nand Tiwari, a neighbour of accused Anukalp Mishra, expressed outrage, saying: 'Action is being taken, brother (Mishra) or whoever is involved in this, whoever has committed theft or wrongdoing, they should be given the strictest punishment. They should be ashamed of their act, especially since it is related to God. They have betrayed the faith of crores of devotees.'
Another neighbour, Anurag, who said he had known Mishra for around a year, described him as 'a person of good nature' but added he could not speak to any hidden intentions. Meanwhile, Tara Devi, a neighbour of accused Tinnu Yadav, claimed he was 'being framed' and asserted he was 'like a brother.'
What Comes Next
The eight accused are to be produced before the Ayodhya city court on 30 June, where their custody status will be reviewed. With the SIT probe ongoing and CCTV evidence under analysis, investigators have not ruled out further arrests. The case has drawn national attention given the religious significance of the Ram Mandir — consecrated in January 2024 — and the scale of donations it receives from devotees across the country.
Point of View
Consecrated with enormous state and public investment just months ago. That the alleged theft involves Trust employees and a temple management associate suggests systemic oversight failure, not a lone bad actor. The SIT's preliminary report flagging 'irregularities at multiple levels' is the critical phrase here: it implies the probe may widen well beyond the current eight. With crores of devotees' donations at stake and political optics surrounding the temple already charged, the pressure on investigators to deliver a transparent, evidence-backed outcome — not just arrests — will be immense.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Mandir donation theft case in Ayodhya?
It is a case of alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. An FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station based on a complaint by a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, after an SIT flagged irregularities in a preliminary report.
Who are the eight accused in the Ram Temple embezzlement case?
The eight accused are Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu), associated with temple management; Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava. All were arrested after the FIR was filed.
What did police find during the raids on 28 June?
Police conducted searches at the residences of all eight accused on 28 June. The exact findings from the raids have not yet been officially disclosed; investigators have stated that CCTV evidence and interrogation will be used to establish the full scope of the alleged theft.
When will the accused appear in court next?
The eight accused are scheduled to be produced before the Ayodhya city court on 30 June 2025, when their custody status will be reviewed following the expiry of their three-day judicial remand.
Could more people be arrested in the Ram Mandir theft case?
Yes, according to police. Investigators have stated that if additional names emerge during interrogation or through CCTV-based evidence, action will be taken against them as well. The SIT's preliminary report indicated irregularities at multiple levels, suggesting the probe could expand.
