Ayodhya: Lavkush Mishra, one of the accused arrested in connection with the alleged theft of donation money from Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, had acquired a plot of land and started constructing a house valued at lakhs of rupees shortly after joining the temple trust. These details have emerged as the ongoing investigation deepens into Mishra’s financial transactions and asset acquisitions, which appear disproportionate to his position on the temple’s cash-counting staff.
According to documents accessed by India Today, the land was purchased in the name of Mishra’s wife, Supriya Mishra, after he joined the Ram Mandir establishment approximately one year ago. The plot, situated near the Ayodhya-Lucknow Highway in the Sahadatganj-Banbirpur area, was bought for a declared value of Rs 8.8 lakh. The current market value of the land and the under-construction house is estimated to be around Rs 25 lakh.
A two-storey house is currently being constructed on the approximately 1,000-square-foot plot. The structure is largely complete, with electrification work also underway.
Residents of the neighbourhood confirmed to India Today that the construction began in February last year. They stated that Mishra and his family frequently visited the site during the initial stages of construction and even attended a bhoomi pujan ceremony held before the work commenced.
Rajkumar Pandey, a neighbour who identified the property as belonging to Mishra’s family, said the accused used to visit the site regularly. “This is the house of Lavkush Mishra. Construction started around February last year. We used to meet him here from time to time,” Pandey said.
According to residents, labourers were working at the site until recently. However, since the Ram Mandir donation theft case came to light and Mishra’s arrest became public, construction activity has abruptly stopped. “The workers were here until a couple of days ago. Since Sunday, neither the labourers nor any family member has been seen at the site,” a local resident said.
The development has sparked discussion among locals, particularly because Mishra was reportedly drawing a monthly salary of only Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 while working with the Ram Mandir Trust. Neighbours described Mishra and his family as ordinary people who usually travelled on a motorcycle and did not display signs of substantial wealth. “From their lifestyle, it never appeared that they had access to so much money. How they managed to build such a house is something only they can explain,” a resident said.
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Lavkush Mishra, 27, was a member of the staff responsible for counting offerings and cash. Police have already arrested Mishra and others accused in the case, and investigators recovered about Rs 12 lakh from his house during a recent raid.
Details of the donation embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir emerged recently, following allegations of the suspected misappropriation of at least Rs 7 crore in cash and jewellery offered by devotees, with some claims suggesting the amount could be significantly higher. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case, leading to the arrest of eight individuals and the recovery of nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash. The scandal has also triggered high-profile resignations within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, including those of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra.