All eight individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) over the alleged embezzlement of donations and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have been arrested, police confirmed on 26 June. The case was triggered by a formal complaint filed by Shri Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, over charges of systematic pilferage at one of India's most prominent religious sites.

Who Was Arrested

The eight accused — Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu — were all associated with the counting of cash and valuables received as donations at the temple. According to investigators, they were allegedly caught embezzling valuables on camera.

The Key Accused and Their Alleged Roles

Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav is considered the key accused in the case. He is described as a former driver of Trust general secretary Champat Rai, and his alleged proximity to Rai has drawn the latter under public scrutiny as well. Sources claim Tinnu Yadav diverted temple funds reportedly to the tune of ₹50 crore for constructing a lavish residence. He is also alleged to have retained keys to donation boxes and operated with unusual autonomy in handling cash and chadhava (offerings). Yadav has repeatedly denied any role in cash counting.

Ramashankar Mishra is accused of hatching a conspiracy to siphon off temple funds and allegedly drew his son and son-in-law into the cash-counting operation. His son, Anukalp Mishra, is said to be connected with Trust member Anil Mishra and is accused of conspiring with his father and brother-in-law to loot valuables. His son-in-law, Lavkush Mishra, is believed to be a key link in embezzling and disposing of stolen offerings; a stash of cash was reportedly recovered from his residence during the investigation.

Subhash Srivastava, a former bank employee, served as supervisor of the cash-counting staff and allegedly acted as a central figure in coordinating the embezzlement. Karunesh Pandey is accused of manipulating donation receipts to conceal the wrongdoing. Manish Kumar Yadav, a nephew of Tinnu Yadav, also came under police scrutiny after stolen money was reportedly recovered from his home. Avinash Shukla, a temple attendant, is alleged to be a key link in the fund diversion; according to reports, ₹5 lakh was recovered from his bank account.

How the Scam Allegedly Operated

The State Bank of India (SBI) was the authorised agency for counting cash, offerings, and valuables at the temple. Investigators allege that the accused exploited their positions within this counting process to systematically divert funds. The alleged manipulation of receipts by Pandey suggests a coordinated effort to obscure the trail of missing donations. This is a significant breach of trust at a site that attracts millions of devotees and crores in offerings annually.

Political and Institutional Fallout

The alleged links between key accused Tinnu Yadav and Trust general secretary Champat Rai have intensified political scrutiny around the Trust's internal oversight mechanisms. Critics argue that the case exposes gaps in the accountability framework governing one of India's wealthiest and most high-profile temples. The Trust has not issued a detailed public statement on the internal controls in place at the time of the alleged pilferage. Investigators are expected to probe further into the chain of custody for donation proceeds as the case moves through the courts.