Legal proceedings have intensified in the case involving financial irregularities and theft of devotee offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. In a significant setback to the accused held in judicial custody, a local court rejected the bail petitions of Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey. The court pronounced its decision after conducting a hearing on September 22, during which arguments from both the prosecution and defense counsel were placed on record. Following the rejection of these petitions, the legal team representing the accused has decided to petition the High Court for relief.
Court Denies Bail After Arguments, Defense Plans Fresh Appeal
Advocate Kul Shekhar Singh, who represents the accused individuals, outlined the court proceedings and confirmed the outcome. He stated that the bail petitions of Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey were taken up by the court on September 22. After evaluating the submissions made by both sides, the judge decided to dismiss all three bail applications. Singh stated that the defense intends to move the High Court to present fresh bail applications on behalf of these three individuals.
Previous Bail Petitions of Three Co-Accused Already Turned Down
The denial of relief follows earlier court orders affecting other persons implicated in the same misappropriation scandal. Advocate Kul Shekhar Singh noted that just a day prior, on September 21, 2026, the bail pleas of three other accused individuals, namely Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, and Ram Shankar Mishra, were also rejected by the court. Given the serious nature of the allegations and ongoing legal scrutiny, the judicial authorities declined to grant interim freedom to the suspects.
Hearing Scheduled for Final Two Accused
Out of the eight individuals implicated in the unauthorized diversion of temple donations, the status of two remains pending in the lower court. The bail applications for Subhash Chand and Tinnu Yadav are scheduled to be taken up for hearing on September 23. Counsel Kul Shekhar Singh indicated that their pleas are likely to meet the same outcome, after which all accused persons are expected to submit their petitions directly before the High Court for further consideration.
Background of the Temple Donation Embezzlement Probe
The unauthorized siphoning of offerings and donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir came to light earlier in 2026, triggering widespread scrutiny and sharp political criticism against the BJP from opposition parties. Initial details revealed that temple attendants diverted substantial sums from the devotee offerings. Investigative authorities managed to recover significant amounts of illicitly held cash from multiple attendants, leading to formal arrests.
The fallout from the revelations also brought major administrative shifts within the temple hierarchy. Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their respective positions, and a new CEO has since been appointed for the Ram Mandir Trust to streamline temple operations. The SIT overseeing the investigation has concluded its inquiry, with a formal charge sheet expected to be submitted before the court by September 25.
