Ram Mandir Donation Case: Police Recover Cash, Jewellery During Searches

Police on Sunday recovered jewellery, cash and property documents from the residence of accused Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav during searches conducted at the homes of all eight people arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram Mandir.

The accused were sent to three days of judicial custody on Friday and will remain in jail until June 29. They are scheduled to be produced before a city court again on Monday.

According to police sources, items have been recovered from the residence of each accused and are being verified.

Officials said an assessment of all recovered materials would be completed by Sunday evening. After which, investigators would decide whether to seek fresh police custody during Monday’s court hearing.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Krishna Mohan lodged the complaint. The Ayodhya Kotwali police station subsequently registered the FIR.

The accused include Ramshankar Yadav and Trust employees Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra and Avinash Shukla. Retired bank employee Subhash Srivastava is also among the accused.

Tinnu Yadav’s neighbour Tara Devi described him as a ‘brother’ and said, “He is being framed.”

Krishna Nand Tiwari, a neighbour of Anukalp Mishra, said, “Action is being taken, brother (Mishra) or whoever is involved in this, whoever has committed theft or wrongdoing, they should be given the strictest punishment. They should be ashamed of their act, especially since it is related to God. They have betrayed the faith of crores of devotees.”

The case was registered after a three-member SIT flagged irregularities in its preliminary report.

Police said the investigation, based on interrogation and CCTV evidence, is continuing and more people could be booked if their involvement is established.

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