The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has arrested eight people and widened its investigation into the suspected diversion of temple funds, with properties, bank transactions and the money trail coming under scrutiny.
Investigators believe the alleged theft peaked during the 2025 Kumbh Mela, when the volume of offerings at the Ram Mandir increased sharply owing to the influx of pilgrims.
Those arrested have been identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. Police have alleged that the accused conspired to siphon off cash from the temple's donation boxes.
According to investigators, the brother-in-law duo of Lav Kush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra allegedly diverted the largest share of the money and invested it in real estate. More than half a dozen properties linked to them have been identified, while the Income Tax Department has been requested to examine their financial transactions. Police are also considering seeking an Enforcement Directorate probe into the alleged laundering of the funds.
Also read: SC declined urgent hearing on Ram Mandir donations probe PIL
The investigation has led to multiple cash recoveries. Police said ₹89 lakh was recovered based on information provided by Avinash Shukla before the FIR was registered. Another ₹5 lakh was allegedly seized from a yoga centre linked to his family.
Investigators also recovered ₹12 lakh, allegedly concealed beneath cow dung, from Lav Kush Mishra's ancestral home. They suspect that despite earning around ₹12,000 a month, he used misappropriated funds to construct a house worth about ₹25 lakh in Ayodhya in his wife's name. His bank accounts and suspected benami assets are being examined.
Around ₹36 lakh was recovered from the residence of Manish Kumar Yadav, while cash, jewellery and property documents were seized from the house of Ramshankar Yadav.
The probe has also brought some employees associated with the State Bank of India, which oversees the counting of temple donations through a private agency, under scrutiny. Investigators suspect the accused exploited access to the counting process and diverted cash with the help of insiders. Police said the investigation is continuing.
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