The ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has revealed significant new developments. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has officially named Avinash Shukla as the primary accused in this case of misappropriation of funds. In a comprehensive report submitted to ACS Sanjay Prasad on June 23, the SIT detailed that approximately 70 instances of theft occurred within a span of just 40 days. This findings highlight the extent of the internal breach and how the donation counting system was compromised to facilitate the theft.
The Network Surrounding Avinash Shukla
Investigators discovered that the identification of the five other accused individuals was largely based on statements provided by Shukla. His involvement went beyond simple theft; it exposed critical vulnerabilities in the donation counting process within the temple. According to the SIT report, Shukla is the first among the six accused whose participation in the crime has been substantiated through a combination of CCTV footage, recovery records, bank account scrutiny, and witness testimonies. These layers of evidence collectively solidify the case against him, demonstrating a clear pattern of illegal activity.
CCTV Footage as Key Evidence
The CCTV recordings provided by the temple trust proved instrumental in revealing how the accused operated in coordination with one another. The footage captured Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey assisting Shukla in concealing and moving the stolen donation money. Inside the counting room, Manish Kumar Yadav was observed working in tandem with Shukla. Furthermore, Ramashankar Mishra was seen in the footage managing and hiding bundles of cash. Based on these visual records, the SIT concluded that the prima facie involvement of all six individuals has been conclusively proven.
Major Recoveries and Financial Discrepancies
The search conducted by the Ayodhya Police resulted in the discovery of significant assets in Avinash Shukla’s possession, marking the largest recovery from any accused involved in this case to date. Authorities seized 20.39 lakh rupees in cash, 1,121 US Dollars, various gold and silver jewelry, other expensive items, and an SUV. The SIT considers these findings to be the most vital links in establishing the manipulation of donation funds. Financial investigations further corroborated the suspicions against Shukla. While other employees involved in the donation counting process earned a monthly salary of approximately 20,000 rupees (with a take-home pay of around 15,000 rupees after deductions), the banking activities linked to Shukla were found to be disproportionately higher than his legitimate earnings.
