Ram Temple donation theft: Land records of 8 accused under scrutiny in Ayodhya
Synopsis
The Ram Temple donation theft probe has taken a sharper financial turn — Ayodhya police are now combing through 20 land parcels and bank records to determine whether the accused built wealth on stolen donations. A key distribution site near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route has been identified, and a concealed valuable recovered, tightening the net around all eight arrested individuals.
Key Takeaways
Ayodhya police have received records for approximately 20 land parcels belonging to the accused and their families from the Revenue Department.
Assets purchased after the accused joined the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust may be classified as 'proceeds of crime'.
A four-wheeler vehicle was seized on Friday as the first asset designated a proceed of crime in the case.
Main accused Avinash Shukla led investigators to a site near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route where stolen donations were allegedly divided.
A valuable item was recovered from near the same site; its nature has not been officially disclosed.
All eight accused have been arrested; the FIR was filed on a complaint by Trust member Krishna Mohan .
The Ayodhya police have obtained land and bank records of all eight accused in the Ram Temple donation theft case and are examining whether the assets qualify as 'proceeds of crime', sources said on Saturday, 4 July. The probe has intensified after investigators identified a key site near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route where the stolen donations were allegedly divided among the accused.
Land Records and Asset Scrutiny
Police have formally requested land parcel details from the Revenue Department for the accused and their family members. So far, records for approximately 20 land parcels have been received and are being verified. According to sources, the critical factor under examination is the purchase dates of these properties — specifically whether they were acquired after the accused became associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. If that timeline holds, authorities could classify those assets as proceeds of crime under applicable law.
Earlier on Friday, acting on a disclosure by main accused Avinash Shukla, police seized a four-wheeler vehicle and formally designated it as a proceed of crime — the first such asset seizure in the case.
The Division Site and Fresh Evidence
Investigators on Friday also identified the location where the accused allegedly gathered to divide the stolen cash. During police remand, Shukla was taken to a site near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route in Ayodhya, where he reportedly identified the exact spot used for distributing the money. According to sources privy to the probe, all eight accused — including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Kamlesh Pandey, and Tinu Yadav — allegedly gathered there after the theft to share the stolen donations.
Shukla reportedly reconstructed the sequence of events at the spot and explained how the money was distributed among the group. The location was also reportedly used to conceal valuables linked to the crime. Acting on his disclosure, investigators recovered a valuable item hidden near the same site, though officials have not yet disclosed the nature of the recovered object. It is believed to be significant evidence that could strengthen the prosecution's case.
Background: The Case and the Accused
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Those named include Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla; along with Ramshankar Yadav and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava. All eight have been arrested.
The case was filed after a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary report — an unusual step that underscored the gravity of the alleged breach within one of India's most prominent religious institutions.
What Investigators Are Doing Next
The probe team is now working to trace the full movement of the stolen property and establish the precise role of each accused. Police are also verifying whether additional valuables remain hidden and are cross-checking statements made during remand. Officials are expected to question the remaining accused and analyse all recovered evidence before filing further submissions in court.
Point of View
One of the most politically and symbolically charged bodies in contemporary India. The SIT's preliminary report flagging 'irregularities at multiple levels' raises a harder question that the investigation has not yet publicly answered — how far up did the knowledge of this alleged theft go, and were internal controls deliberately weak?
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation theft case?
It is a criminal case registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station involving the alleged theft of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. Eight accused — including Trust employees and a retired bank employee — have been arrested after a three-member SIT flagged irregularities in its preliminary report.
Who are the accused in the Ram Temple donation theft case?
The eight accused are Ramshankar Yadav, Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Avinash Shukla, and retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava. All eight have been arrested.
What does 'proceeds of crime' mean in this context?
'Proceeds of crime' refers to assets — such as land or vehicles — that are believed to have been acquired using money obtained through criminal activity. If Ayodhya police establish that the accused purchased properties after joining the Trust using stolen donations, those assets can be seized and designated as proceeds of crime under applicable law.
What was found near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route?
Investigators, acting on disclosures by main accused Avinash Shukla during police remand, identified a site near the 14-Kosi Parikrama route in Ayodhya as the alleged location where the stolen donations were divided among the eight accused. A valuable item was also recovered from near the same spot, though police have not yet disclosed its nature.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police are continuing to verify the approximately 20 land parcels received from the Revenue Department and are cross-checking statements made during remand. Investigators plan to question the remaining accused and analyse all recovered evidence before filing further submissions in court.
