Daijiworld Media Network - Ayodhya
Ayodhya, Sep 26: A nearly 70,000-page chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has detailed 105 instances of alleged unauthorised removal or concealment of cash during the counting process. The chargesheet was filed against eight accused before an anti-corruption court in Ayodhya.
According to the investigation, the alleged diversion took place during the counting of donations rather than during the subsequent transfer of counted money to banks. The SIT said it found no evidence of pilferage during the transfer process. Investigators examined CCTV footage, digital evidence, witness statements, banking records and a forensic audit to reconstruct the alleged money trail.
The eight accused named in the chargesheet are Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla alias Shani, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav and Subhash Srivastava. All eight are in judicial custody. The chargesheet includes allegations of criminal breach of trust and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Investigators recovered Rs 79.85 lakh allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement from seven of the eight accused, with no such recovery reported from Srivastava. The SIT also examined bank accounts, deposits, withdrawals, properties, vehicles, jewellery and other assets as part of its investigation into the alleged money trail.
The chargesheet reportedly contains more than 100 case diaries, statements from nearly 190 witnesses, banking records, property details, asset trails and findings of a forensic audit. The investigation also verified 803 valuable donated articles recorded in the temple trust’s software and physically checked another 86 valuables for which receipts were not available.
The SIT has described Anukalp Mishra as a key accused in the alleged conspiracy. Investigators said they recovered more than 3,000 deleted messages from the mobile phones of the accused, with conversations allegedly discussing the removal, concealment, transportation and distribution of cash.
CCTV footage has also been cited by investigators to attribute alleged acts to individual accused. According to the chargesheet, Avinash Shukla was allegedly involved in removing donation money on 85 occasions, while Anukalp Mishra allegedly assisted on 56 occasions, Karunesh Pandey on 68 occasions and Lavkush Mishra on 52 occasions.
The case was registered in June following a complaint by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Krishna Mohan after a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the handling of donations.
The investigation was conducted under the supervision of the SIT after the Supreme Court became involved in monitoring the probe. The chargesheet was filed within the statutory 90-day period following the first arrests.