Ram Temple donation theft: CCTV caught Avinash Shukla stealing 85 times, SIT chargesheet reveals
Synopsis
A 70,000-page SIT chargesheet in the Ram Temple donation theft case lays out CCTV-backed evidence showing accused Avinash Shukla pilfering from the counting room 85 times — part of over 105 documented incidents involving eight counting-room staffers. With ₹79.85 lakh in recovered proceeds, forensic audits of temple trust accounts, and charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the case now moves to trial with a formidable paper trail.
Key Takeaways
The SIT filed a 70,000-page chargesheet on 25 September 2026 before the Additional District Judge (Anti-Corruption), Ayodhya .
Avinash Shukla was caught on CCTV removing money 85 times from the counting room; over 105 incidents of cash removal or concealment are documented.
Recovered proceeds of crime exceed ₹79.85 lakh ; embezzled funds were used to buy vehicles, land, and houses .
Lavkush Mishra allegedly spent ₹43.43 lakh of stolen donations on a house and land.
All eight accused face charges of criminal breach of trust and provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act .
Trust general secretary Champat Rai and three other Trust officials have been named as witnesses in the chargesheet.
The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Uttar Pradesh Police has filed a 70,000-page chargesheet in the Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya, citing CCTV footage as primary evidence and alleging that accused Avinash Shukla was captured on camera removing money from the counting room on 85 separate occasions. The chargesheet, filed on Wednesday, 25 September 2026, names eight accused and pegs recovered proceeds of crime at over ₹79.85 lakh.
What the CCTV Evidence Shows
According to the chargesheet filed before the Additional District Judge (Anti-Corruption), Ayodhya, surveillance footage documents over 105 instances of cash removal or concealment by counting-room staff. Beyond Avinash Shukla's 85 recorded incidents, the chargesheet details each accused's on-camera conduct: Karunesh Pandey was seen removing money twice and assisting others on 68 occasions; Manish Yadav removed money 16 times and assisted co-accused on 19 occasions; Lavkush Mishra was seen removing money once and assisting on 52 occasions; Anukalp Mishra was recorded assisting co-accused 56 times; and Ramshankar Mishra was seen removing donation money once.
The Eight Accused and Charges Filed
The eight individuals named in the chargesheet are Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Ramashankar Mishra, Manish Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava. All eight face charges of criminal breach of trust as well as provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to an investigator linked to the SIT.
How the Money Was Used
The chargesheet alleges that embezzled funds were used to purchase vehicles, land, and houses. Investigators recovered ornaments from the accused. Specifically, the chargesheet states that Anukalp Mishra's father used stolen donation money to buy a house, while Lavkush Mishra reportedly spent ₹43.43 lakh on a house and land. The SIT noted that cash was first parked in specific bank accounts before being diverted to these purchases.
Digital Evidence and Forensic Audit
In addition to CCTV recordings, the chargesheet relies on mobile chats, call detail records (CDRs), and banking transaction data as digital evidence. Investigators noted that CDRs indicate all accused were in regular contact with each other throughout the period the crime was committed. A separate forensic audit was conducted to examine how donations were collected, deposited in banks, and subsequently used for illegal transactions; auditors also reviewed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust's audited financial statements.
Witnesses Named; SIT Composition
Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former Trust administrator Gopal Rao, former trustee Anil Mishra, and interim General Secretary Krishna Mohan have been named as witnesses in the chargesheet, according to officials. The SIT was headed by Lucknow Range Inspector General Kiran S, with Faizabad Range DIG Somen Barma and Ayodhya SSP Gaurav Grover as members. The case was initially registered in June following a preliminary inquiry that flagged suspected diversion of donations from the temple trust.
With the chargesheet now before the court, the trial phase is set to begin, and the weight of forensic and digital evidence could prove pivotal in determining the outcome of a case that has drawn national attention given its connection to one of India's most prominent religious sites.
Point of View
70,000 pages of evidence — signals that the SIT has built a prosecution designed to be airtight rather than expedient. What makes this case politically and institutionally significant is its location: the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is not just a religious body but a symbol of state-backed faith infrastructure. That counting-room staff could systematically divert donations over months, apparently undetected internally, raises questions about the adequacy of the Trust's own oversight mechanisms — a thread the chargesheet's forensic audit touches on but the trial will need to examine in full. The naming of senior Trust officials as witnesses, rather than accused, is also a detail worth watching as proceedings unfold.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya?
The Ram Temple donation theft case involves eight counting-room staff accused of systematically stealing from donations collected at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. The case was registered in June after a preliminary inquiry flagged suspected diversion of funds, and the Supreme Court-appointed SIT of Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently investigated the matter.
How many times was Avinash Shukla caught on CCTV stealing from the Ram Temple?
According to the SIT chargesheet, accused Avinash Shukla was captured on CCTV cameras removing money from the counting room on 85 separate occasions. The chargesheet documents over 105 total incidents of cash removal or concealment by counting staff across all eight accused.
Who are the eight accused named in the SIT chargesheet?
The eight accused are Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Ramashankar Mishra, Manish Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava. All face charges of criminal breach of trust and provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
How much money was recovered in the Ram Temple donation theft case?
The SIT chargesheet puts recovered proceeds of crime at over ₹79.85 lakh. The embezzled money was allegedly used to purchase vehicles, land, and houses — including ₹43.43 lakh spent by Lavkush Mishra on a house and land.
Who are the witnesses named in the Ram Temple theft chargesheet?
Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former Trust administrator Gopal Rao, former trustee Anil Mishra, and interim General Secretary Krishna Mohan have been named as witnesses in the chargesheet, according to officials. They are witnesses, not accused.
