AYODHYA, September 18, 2026 – The judicial custody of all eight individuals arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of cash and valuables donated at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple has been extended until September 21. The order was passed on Friday by Special Judge Rajat Verma of the Anti-Corruption Court in Ayodhya, who is scheduled to hear the matter next on the stipulated date. Advocate Kul Shekhar Singh, representing the accused, informed that the court has explicitly directed the police and the investigating officer to produce the complete case diary and the official investigation report during the upcoming hearing. The defence counsel noted that hearings on the bail applications of the accused have faced repeated deferments due to the investigating officer’s failure to submit the requisite report before the court. Singh further warned that if the authorities fail to produce the case diary at the next hearing, he will immediately move a formal application seeking bail for the incarcerated individuals.
The eight accused—identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav—were officially arrested following an FIR lodged on June 25. The police action was initiated based on a preliminary report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government to probe the financial irregularities. According to the prosecution, the case involves the systematic theft of funds and offerings made by devotees, with investigators successfully recovering ₹79.85 lakh so far. Most of the arrested individuals were bank employees specifically deployed to manage the cash counting process at the temple. Among them, Subhash Srivastava served as the in-charge of the donation-counting operations, while Tinnu Yadav worked as a driver. In his bail application, Srivastava has strongly claimed false implication, arguing that several other personnel, apart from the eight arrested, were actively involved in the counting process and that he is being unfairly targeted. All eight accused are currently lodged in jail as the investigation continues.
Published by True Roots Media Network