Lucknow: Police teams early on Sunday carried out coordinated searches at the residences of eight people who were arrested over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations to the Ram Temple, a probe that has spiralled into a high-profile controversy, sparked political clashes and prompted law-enforcement action.
The Ram Temple trust confirmed on Saturday that its general secretary, Champat Rai, and trust member Anil Mishra have submitted their resignations.
The controversy erupted on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey accused those managing temple collections of diverting between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore in offerings.
At the request of the trust, the state government on June 13 constituted a special investigation team (SIT). The SIT conducted an initial inquiry in Ayodhya from June 15 to 20 and reported prima facie irregularities in how cash and valuables donated by devotees were managed, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Charges & Arrests
An FIR was registered against the eight named suspects and other unknown persons under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Those arrested include Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu (described as a close aide of Champat Rai), Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, Ramashankar Mishra, Manish Yadav and Karunesh Pandey. According to reports, Anukalp and Lavkush Mishra are related to one another and are also related to Anil Mishra.
Searches At Dawn
Police said teams reached the accused’s homes at about 7 am and launched detailed searches and rounds of questioning as part of the ongoing inquiry. Six teams conducted the simultaneous operations at different sites linked to the accused, officers said.
Investigators questioned family members about financial dealings, activities and possible associates, and spoke to neighbours to establish the movements, visitors and any suspicious behaviour that might help the investigation.
The eight accused are currently in judicial custody. Investigators are examining whether other individuals were part of the alleged conspiracy and are gathering additional evidence to bolster the case.
Trust’s Response
In a statement seeking to calm devotees, the trust said it would cooperate with a fair and transparent investigation and expressed shock and distress over the reports.
“We are shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by the incidents reported over the past few days… We assure everyone that we will take measures to prevent any such unfortunate situation from arising in the future,” it said.
Protecting Sanctity
The trust urged the public not to be influenced by “rumours or misinformation” and sought to reassure believers that the temple’s sanctity had not been compromised. “We assure everyone that no irreparable damage has occurred to the sanctity of the temple. We request all devotees not to be misled by rumours, misinformation or false propaganda. Such attempts cannot shake Sanatan Dharma, the temple or the faith of millions of devotees,” the statement added.
