A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has documented the recovery of ₹79.85 lakh in cash from seven of the eight accused arrested in connection with the case, according to documents submitted before the court. The disclosures, emerging as of 1 July, reveal a coordinated breach of trust by temple staff who allegedly siphoned off cash and valuables from devotees' offering boxes.

Accused-Wise Cash Recoveries

Avinash Shukla tops the list with the highest individual seizure — ₹20.39 lakh recovered from his premises. Investigators also found him in possession of foreign currency (dollars) and yellow metals, reportedly gold. The denomination breakdown — over 3,600 notes of ₹500, more than 500 notes of ₹200, and smaller denominations of ₹10, ₹20, and ₹50 — strongly points to temple offerings as the source, according to investigators.

Karunesh Pandey had ₹18.07 lakh seized from his possession, also in mixed denominations consistent with donation-box cash. Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra had ₹16.82 lakh and ₹14.25 lakh recovered respectively. Ramashankar Mishra was found with ₹7.32 lakh and some white metals, including silver. Manish Kumar Yadav had ₹2 lakh, while Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav — described as the most prominent face of the alleged theft — was caught with just ₹1 lakh in cash.

The Eight Accused and the SIT Probe

Following the constitution of the SIT, police arrested eight individuals: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. All eight face allegations of conspiring to divert cash and valuables from the temple's donation boxes. Cash figures have so far been documented for seven; the eighth accused, Subhash Srivastava, is not yet accounted for in the publicly available court documents.

The ₹79.85 lakh figure represents only what has been formally documented on record. Investigators reportedly believe the total amount siphoned off — including valuables — runs into crores, though those figures are yet to be officially confirmed in court submissions.

Scale of the Alleged Nexus

The denomination patterns across multiple accused are notably similar, suggesting a structured and recurring method of skimming from offering boxes rather than isolated incidents. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of temple administration at one of India's most prominent religious sites, which draws lakhs of devotees and substantial daily donations. Notably, the alleged conspiracy appears to have involved staff at multiple levels, pointing to what investigators describe as a deep internal nexus.

What Comes Next

The SIT's investigation is ongoing, with documents continuing to be placed before the court. Further disclosures regarding the eighth accused and the full extent of valuables allegedly stolen — including gold and silver — are expected as the probe progresses. The case has drawn significant public and political attention given the Ram Temple's national significance.