Ayodhya Ram Temple donation pilferage: FIR filed, 2 arrested out of 8 accused
Synopsis
An FIR naming eight people — including six Ram Temple cash-counting employees — has been filed in the Ayodhya donation pilferage case, with two arrests made. CCTV footage is at the centre of the evidence, and the SIT probe is now in a more intensive phase, even as the Trust itself denies any wrongdoing.
Key Takeaways
An FIR has been registered in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation pilferage case, naming eight accused including six cash-counting employees.
Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra were arrested on Thursday, 25 June ; six others remain at large.
All eight accused were allegedly caught on CCTV footage embezzling offerings, per the complaint by Trust member Krishna Mohan .
The FIR is registered under BNS Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 , and 3(5) .
The SIT submitted its preliminary inquiry report just two days before the FIR, with CM Yogi Adityanath calling for complete clarity.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has denied financial irregularities and demanded an impartial probe.
An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered in connection with alleged pilferage of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, with two accused arrested on Thursday and a search underway for the remaining six. The case, filed at the direction of the Uttar Pradesh government, names eight individuals — including six temple employees tasked with counting cash donations.
The Complaint and Accused
The FIR was lodged following a formal complaint by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. According to the complaint, all eight accused were allegedly caught embezzling money on CCTV footage.
Those arrested are Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra. The remaining six — Ramshankar Yadav (driver of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai), Avinash Shukla, Ramshankar Mishra, Manish Yadav, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, and Karunesh Pandey — are being actively searched.
Legal Provisions Invoked
The FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61, and 3(5). The range of provisions reflects the gravity of the alleged offences, covering criminal breach of trust and conspiracy, among others.
SIT Probe and Government Response
The FIR comes just two days after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its preliminary inquiry report to the Uttar Pradesh government. The report was handed over by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad. The SIT had earlier questioned several individuals, including Trust General Secretary Champat Rai.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had previously stated that the SIT investigation would bring 'complete clarity' to the matter. 'Nothing should be said that hurts the sentiments of Lord Ram's devotees. If anyone has any evidence, they should present it before the SIT,' he had said.
Trust Denies Wrongdoing
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has strongly denied any financial irregularities and had demanded a fair and impartial investigation. The Trust's position puts it at odds with the complaint filed by one of its own members, adding a layer of institutional complexity to the case.
With the FIR now registered and fresh documents submitted to the SIT, the investigation into the sensitive Ram Temple donation matter has entered a significantly more intensive phase.
Point of View
Particularly given its political sensitivity. What complicates the picture is the Trust's blanket denial of irregularities even as its own member filed the complaint: that internal contradiction will be as important to resolve as the criminal allegations themselves. The SIT's preliminary report arriving just 48 hours before the FIR suggests a coordinated escalation. The real test is whether the investigation will be allowed to follow the evidence wherever it leads — including, if necessary, into the Trust's own administrative chain.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation pilferage case?
It is a criminal case alleging that offerings made by devotees at the Ayodhya Ram Temple were embezzled by temple employees responsible for counting cash. An FIR has been registered naming eight accused, with two arrested as of 25 June .
Who filed the complaint that led to the FIR?
The complaint was filed by Krishna Mohan , a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust . He alleged that all eight accused were caught embezzling donations on CCTV footage.
Who has been arrested and who is still being searched?
Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra have been arrested. The remaining six accused — including Ramshankar Yadav , driver of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai — are being searched by police.
What is the role of the SIT in this case?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) , constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government , submitted its preliminary inquiry report two days before the FIR was filed. The SIT had questioned several individuals including Trust General Secretary Champat Rai during its probe.
What is the Trust's position on the allegations?
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has strongly denied any financial irregularities and demanded a fair and impartial investigation, even as the FIR was filed on a complaint by one of its own members.
