Ram Temple Donation Row: Rs 58 Lakh Allegedly Recovered Before Complaint Was Filed

June 29, 2026

Ayodhya : Fresh details have emerged in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case, with sources claiming that nearly Rs 58 lakh was recovered from the residence of one of the accused even before a formal FIR was registered.

According to sources, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was first alerted to the suspected embezzlement on June 4. After conducting an internal verification, Trust officials reportedly initiated efforts to trace the missing funds.

Sources said that on June 5, acting on the instructions of then Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, officials accompanied by police personnel visited the residence of accused Avinash Shukla. During the operation, nearly Rs 58 lakh in cash was allegedly recovered.

The recovery assumes significance as it reportedly took place before any formal complaint was filed with the police.

Sources further claimed that the remaining amount was returned by the accused through bank transfers between June 5 and June 8, indicating that the recovery process had begun before the case officially entered the legal system.

According to sources, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:

June 4: The Trust receives information about the alleged theft.
June 5: Trust officials, along with police, visit the residence of an accused and allegedly recover nearly Rs 58 lakh.
June 5-8: The remaining amount is reportedly returned through bank transfers.
June 7: Allegations of donation theft become public.
After June 7: Formal legal proceedings begin and the investigation expands.

The timeline has now become a key focus of the investigation, with agencies examining why the recovery allegedly preceded the registration of the FIR and whether established procedures were followed during the initial response.

The latest claims add to earlier reports suggesting that the Trust had knowledge of the alleged embezzlement days before the controversy surfaced publicly. India Today TV had earlier reported that Trust officials and police reached the residence of one of the accused on June 5.

CCTV footage that later surfaced purportedly shows accused Avinash Shukla being escorted by police personnel while carrying a black bag believed to contain the recovered cash. However, the authenticity of the footage and the claims surrounding the sequence of events have not been independently verified.

The alleged donation theft came to light publicly on June 7 after claims surfaced that offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple had been misappropriated.

As the controversy intensified, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The investigation eventually led to the arrest of eight accused. Police later conducted simultaneous raids at their residences and recovered cash allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement. The accused were subsequently sent to judicial custody as investigators continued to trace the money trail and probe the alleged conspiracy.

Amid mounting scrutiny, Champat Rai resigned as General Secretary of the Trust, while trustee Anil Mishra also stepped down. Their exits came as the SIT widened its investigation into the handling of donations and oversight mechanisms.

According to sources, the SIT has identified multiple alleged lapses in cash handling, employee verification and CCTV surveillance. Investigators are also examining the appointment of outsourced personnel involved in donation management and other administrative functions.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned how the alleged irregularities escaped detection despite the government’s close monitoring of developments in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded a transparent investigation while maintaining that anyone found guilty should face strict legal action.

With fresh details emerging about the events leading up to the FIR, investigators are now examining whether the alleged pre-complaint recovery of funds has any bearing on the larger case and whether due legal procedures were followed.

The answers to these questions are expected to play a crucial role as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of one of the most sensitive financial controversies involving the Ram Temple Trust.