Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Court Extends Custody of Eight in Ram Temple Theft Case
A court in Ayodhya is investigating alleged missing money and valuables from the Ram temple.
Eight people who worked with the temple’s donation-counting process were arrested.
The court decided they must remain in jail until September 18.
The arrests followed a police case filed on June 25.
Most of the accused were bank employees who counted cash donations.
Subhash Srivastava supervised the counting process, while Tinnu Yadav worked as a driver.
Investigators say they have recovered Rs 79.85 lakh.
Srivastava’s lawyer says he was wrongly accused and that other people also helped count the donations.
The court will consider the accused’s bail applications on September 11, 14 and 15.
An Anti-Corruption Court in Ayodhya extended the judicial custody of all eight accused until September 18.
The accused were arrested after a June 25 FIR concerning alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple.
The custody extension was ordered on September 5 by Special Judge Rajat Verma, according to the reports.
Investigators have recovered Rs 79.85 lakh in cash and valuables, according to the prosecution.
The defense says Subhash Srivastava was falsely implicated and that other people also participated in counting donations.
- Who
- Eight people associated with the Ram temple’s donation-counting process, including bank employees, a supervisor and a driver, were arrested.
- What
- A court extended their judicial custody in a case involving alleged theft or embezzlement of donated cash and valuables.
- When
- Custody was extended until September 18 by an order dated September 5; the FIR was filed on June 25.
- Where
- The order was issued by the Anti-Corruption Court in Ayodhya.
- Why
- The accused are being investigated over alleged misappropriation of donations offered by devotees at the Ram temple.
Defense Position
Prosecution Case
Responsibility for the alleged theft
Defense Position
The defense says Subhash Srivastava was falsely implicated and argues that people beyond the eight accused also participated in the donation-counting process.
Prosecution Case
The prosecution case concerns alleged embezzlement of cash and valuables donated by devotees, with investigators reporting recovery of Rs 79.85 lakh.
Continued detention
Defense Position
The accused have sought bail, and the defense has requested that Srivastava’s Canara Bank account be unfrozen because it receives his pension and supports his family.
Prosecution Case
The court extended judicial custody for all eight accused until September 18 while the investigation and proceedings continue.
- Accused in custody
- Eight people
- Custody extended until
- September 18
- FIR date
- June 25
- Court
- Anti-Corruption Court, Ayodhya
- Presiding judge
- Special Judge Rajat Verma
- Amount recovered
- Rs 79.85 lakh in cash and valuables, according to the prosecution
- Bail hearings
- Three applications are scheduled for September 11, three for September 14 and two for September 15
- Related account plea
- A request to unfreeze Subhash Srivastava’s Canara Bank account is scheduled for September 9
