Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case: Court remands all accused to 14-day judicial custody

AYODHYA: A local court in Ayodhya on Monday remanded all the accused in the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case to 14-day judicial custody. The court’s decision follows a high-intensity investigation by the Uttar Pradesh police into reports of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Meanwhile, family members of the accused were seen arriving at the prison premises to meet their kin. Ravi Yadav, the son of accused Tinnu Yadav, and Shani Yadav, the brother of accused Manish Yadav, reached the Ayodhya District Jail, where the accused are currently lodged.

#WATCH | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case | Kalika Prasad Mishra, President, Ayodhya Bar Association says, “The advocate will not represent the accused. If an advocate does represent them, they must deposit a sum of Rs 5 lakh per name into… https://t.co/yNaNNNTEuJ pic.twitter.com/hpYpsKFEGT

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Last Friday, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member trustee Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility for the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations. Following this, Rai’s statement was recorded by police here as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations, sources said on Monday.

The sources revealed that while Champat Rai has been questioned, statements from other senior Trust office-bearers, including Anil Mishra, will be recorded later if required during the investigation. On Sunday, the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations intensified as a police team reached the residence of Avinash Shukla, one of the accused in Ayodhya.

Earlier, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust) in an official press statement said, “We are shocked, hurt, and deeply saddened by the incidents reported over the past few days regarding the Shri Ram Mandir (Ayodhya). We are committed to ensuring a fair investigation and reassuring the devotees.”

The Trust also announced that it had received the resignations of Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust), and Trustee Anil Mishra. The development came after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on June 25 in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

According to officials, the case has been filed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), on the directions of the Uttar Pradesh Government. Those who have been named in the FIR are: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav and others. This comes after allegations were made by former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in donations were misappropriated from the Ram Mandir.

Following the allegations, on June 14, the state government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged scam involving offerings made at the Ram Mandir, following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust.

Reacting to the case, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “The police administration should conduct an impartial investigation and take strict action; the government will ensure this”.

The case has triggered a political slugfest in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling BJP and Opposition parties trading allegations over the handling of the temple’s finances, even as the SIT investigation continues. (ANI)