Uttar Pradesh SIT tightens noose in Ram Mandir donation theft case, questions Anil Mishra, Champat Rai next in line

The SIT questioned Ram Mandir trustee Anil Mishra in Ayodhya as part of a widening donation theft probe that now has 10 people under the scanner and will soon question Champat Rai, even as police probe the accused's sudden wealth and prepare bulldozer action on Lavkush Mishra's house.

The investigation into the Ram Mandir donation theft case has entered its second round, with the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team, the SIT, arriving in Ayodhya once again on Thursday and questioning trust trustee Anil Mishra for hours. This second round of questioning has brought a total of 10 people under the SIT's scanner, and trust general secretary Champat Rai will also be questioned again soon.

Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao come under the scanner
The SIT suspects large scale bribery took place in the recruitment of sevadars and staff, which allegedly gave a free run to theft of donations. Investigators believe a massive amount of donations was stolen during the Maha Kumbh, when bundles of notes were stuffed into sacks, making it difficult to keep proper watch over the cash. Sevadars who serve at the temple have also been questioned during the investigation. Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao now appear to be under pressure, since most of those arrested so far were hired at the temple on the recommendation of these two men. During questioning, almost all the accused have repeatedly named Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, which has widened the scope of the probe to include both of them.

Police tracking the assets of sevadars who suddenly became crorepatis
Meanwhile, police have already taken accused Avinash Shukla on remand, and the remaining accused will also be taken on remand soon. Police are now compiling a complete record of the movable and immovable assets of all the accused. The most startling part of the investigation is how people who used to drive autos, sell water from carts, or work as delivery boys suddenly became crorepatis and how they ended up building luxurious houses. Police are trying to establish whether this entire wealth was built from the loot of stolen donations. They are also examining whether each accused stole individually or whether this was carried out by an organised gang, whether the loot was divided among them, what share each person got, and who else, besides those already arrested, was involved in the entire scheme.

From a farmer's family in Pratapgarh to Ayodhya
The assets of remanded accused Avinash Shukla are also now being examined in detail. A court has sent him to 24 hour police remand. Avinash Shukla originally hails from Nariyawan Babupur village in Pratapgarh district, where his farmer father owns a total of 14 bigha of farmland. Avinash came to Ayodhya in 2025 and got a job counting donations at the Ram Mandir. His lifestyle changed completely once he got this job. Earlier, his family lived in an old kutcha house in the village, but recently the family built a new pucca house in the same village. Finishing work was still going on in this new house until a few days ago, but that work has come to a complete halt since Avinash's arrest.

Bulldozer action looms over Lavkush Mishra's three storey house
Each accused in the donation theft case is now being held accountable one by one. In this process, preparations have begun for bulldozer action against the house of another accused, Lavkush Mishra. Lavkush Mishra had bought a plot in the Shahadatganj locality of Ayodhya in the name of his wife, Supriya Mishra, and was building a three storey house on it. The total cost of the plot and the construction on it is said to be more than one crore rupees. Construction work was halted after Lavkush's arrest. The Ayodhya Development Authority, or ADA, has now sent a notice to Supriya Mishra regarding this house. The ADA says several rules were violated during the construction, and has sought a response from Supriya, the owner of the plot. If a satisfactory response is not received within seven days, bulldozer action could be taken against the house.

What this means for you
• Across India: The case is a reminder for temples and religious trusts nationwide about the need for transparency in cash handling and staff recruitment.
• In Ayodhya: Locally, authorities are moving directly against the accused's illegal properties, including preparations for bulldozer action on Lavkush Mishra's house.

Questions & Answers

1. Who has the SIT questioned so far in the Ram Mandir donation theft case?
The SIT has questioned trustee Anil Mishra, and trust general secretary Champat Rai will also be questioned again soon.

2. How many people are under the SIT's scanner in this second round?
A total of 10 people are under the SIT's scanner.

3. Who is Avinash Shukla and how long is his remand?
Avinash Shukla is from Nariyawan Babupur village in Pratapgarh, worked counting donations at the Ram Mandir, and has been sent to 24 hour police remand.

4. Why could bulldozer action be taken against Lavkush Mishra's house?
The Ayodhya Development Authority says the construction of a three storey house on a plot in his wife Supriya Mishra's name violated several rules, and action could follow if a satisfactory response isn't given within seven days.

5. Why is police investigating the accused's assets?
Police want to establish how people who used to drive autos, sell water from carts, and work as delivery boys suddenly became crorepatis with luxurious houses.

6. Why are Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao coming under increasing suspicion?
Because most arrested accused were hired at the temple on the recommendation of these two men, and all the accused have repeatedly named them during questioning.

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