Ayodhya, Sept 2026 : A 70,000-page charge sheet filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case has cited CCTV footage, banking records and digital evidence to detail suspected diversion and concealment of donation money.
The charge sheet, filed before the Additional District Judge (Anti-Corruption), Ayodhya, names eight accused and alleges that more than 105 instances of cash removal or concealment were recorded during the handling of donations at the counting room.
According to an investigator associated with the SIT, the charge sheet places the recovered proceeds of crime at more than Rs 79.85 lakh. It also identifies bank accounts allegedly used to park the cash before it was transferred or used in transactions described as illegal.
The accused have been booked under provisions relating to criminal breach of trust and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Those named are Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Ramashankar Mishra, Manish Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Mishra and Subhash Srivastava.
CCTV footage forms a key part of the evidence cited by investigators. The charge sheet alleges that Avinash Shukla was captured on camera removing money from the counting room on 85 occasions.
It further records alleged involvement of other accused based on CCTV footage. Karunesh Pandey was allegedly seen removing donation money twice and assisting others on 68 occasions. Manish Yadav was allegedly caught removing money 16 times and assisting in the alleged theft 19 times.
Lavkush Mishra was allegedly seen removing money once and assisting others 52 times, while Anukalp Mishra was allegedly captured assisting co-accused on 56 occasions. Ramashankar Mishra was allegedly seen removing donation money once.
The SIT has also relied on mobile phone chats, call detail records (CDRs), banking transactions, recoveries and other digital material. Investigators said CDRs showed regular communication among the accused during the period in which the alleged irregularities took place.
The charge sheet also refers to the recovery of ornaments from some of the accused and alleges that proceeds from the suspected embezzlement were used to purchase vehicles, land and residential properties.
According to the investigators, Anukalp Mishra's father allegedly purchased a house using money linked to the suspected theft, while Lavkush Mishra allegedly spent Rs 43.43 lakh on a house and land.
A forensic audit was also conducted as part of the investigation to examine the manner in which donations were collected, handled and deposited in bank accounts. The auditors examined the financial records and audited statements of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to trace the flow of funds.
Several senior Trust officials have been cited as witnesses in the charge sheet. They include Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former administrator Gopal Rao, former trustee Anil Mishra and interim general secretary Krishna Mohan, officials said.
The SIT was headed by Lucknow Range Inspector General Kiran S, with Faizabad Range Deputy Inspector General Somen Barma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover as members.
The case was registered in June after a preliminary inquiry allegedly detected suspected diversion of donations. The latest charge sheet brings together the SIT's findings from CCTV recordings, financial transactions, forensic auditing and other evidence.
The allegations will now be examined by the trial court as the legal proceedings against the eight accused move forward.
