In a significant development in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft investigation, authorities have determined that the bulk of the missing funds disappeared during the Kumbh Mela held in early 2025.
Police investigations revealed that eight individuals, including a pair of brothers-in-law, orchestrated and executed the scheme by exploiting the sharp rise in donations and offerings at the temple during the large-scale religious gathering. Some of the accused had prior involvement in minor thefts, but the crowded event provided an opportunity for a coordinated, large-scale operation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested all eight suspects: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramshankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav. Interrogations of the group lasted several hours, with officials asserting that the conspiracy involved full participation from everyone detained.
Key Role of the Brother-in-Law Duo
Further scrutiny has identified brothers-in-law Lavkush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra as the primary perpetrators, responsible for stealing the largest share of the cash. The pair reportedly used portions of the proceeds to acquire multiple properties, with investigators tracing more than half a dozen assets connected to them.
Ayodhya police are collaborating with the Income Tax Department to scrutinize the financial dealings and real estate holdings of those arrested. The inquiry has also drawn attention to certain employees of the State Bank of India (SBI), prompting plans to involve the Enforcement Directorate for a deeper examination of the money trail.
Cash collections at the temple are managed under SBI oversight, involving a private agency and a counting team of 14 members—comprising 11 bank personnel and three representatives from the temple trust. Donations are deposited into four secure boxes.
Recovery Details
The largest cache of stolen money was discovered at a hideout in Kaushalpuri linked to Avinash Shukla, specifically at a yoga centre operated by his brother Abhishek. Authorities recovered substantial amounts hidden inside blankets within four boxes, one of which bore markings related to temple funds.
Additional cash was seized during searches at the residences of the accused, including from Tinnu Yadav’s home. Yadav previously served as the driver for a former senior official of the temple trust. Sources indicate that access to the counting area involved keys held by Yadav and bank staff, suggesting internal collusion allowed systematic siphoning of funds, with shares distributed among participants.
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Banking records obtained from the accused showed transactions and account activities significantly exceeding their legitimate incomes. A comprehensive review spanning a year confirmed discrepancies between their earnings and financial movements. Notably, Rs 89 lakh in cash the highest single recovery was retrieved based on details provided by Avinash Shukla. This amount had been recovered internally by the trust prior to the formal registration of the case.
The investigation continues to map the full extent of the financial irregularities and assets acquired through the theft.