In a major development in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, the Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested all eight individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR). The arrests came shortly after the FIR was registered following a preliminary investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into alleged irregularities in the handling of donations made by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
The FIR was lodged at the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The complaint followed the submission of the SIT’s preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government, which highlighted suspected financial irregularities in the collection, counting, and management of temple donations.
The eight arrested individuals have been identified as Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, and Karunesh Pandey. According to investigators, the accused were directly involved in the counting and handling of cash and valuables donated by devotees at the temple.
Police have booked the accused under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. Investigators allege that donations collected through temple donation boxes were misappropriated during the counting process.
Officials said the SIT examined records relating to the collection, storage, counting, and supervision of temple donations. Several temple employees and officials connected with the donation management system were questioned during the inquiry. The investigation is now entering the criminal prosecution stage, with police examining financial records, questioning the accused, and tracing the alleged diversion of funds.
Authorities have indicated that the probe remains ongoing and that additional arrests or charges could follow if further evidence emerges. The police are also working to determine the full extent of the alleged financial losses and whether any larger network was involved in the misappropriation of temple donations.
In a related development, a local court remanded all eight accused to judicial custody until June 29. Investigators have reportedly recovered around ₹80 lakh during the probe, and further recovery efforts are continuing.
The alleged embezzlement has generated widespread public attention due to the religious significance of the Ram Temple and the trust placed by millions of devotees who contribute donations. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has maintained that it initiated the complaint and is cooperating fully with investigators to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of temple funds.
The investigation continues as authorities seek to establish the complete chain of events and identify whether any additional individuals were involved in the alleged misuse of donations.
