1 day ago
Ram Temple Donation Case Chargesheet Names Eight Accused
Police have filed a very large report about suspected theft of donations at the Ram temple.
The report names eight people as accused.
Police say temple cameras recorded 105 possible theft incidents.
They also say about Rs 80 lakh was recovered from seven of the accused.
The accused allegedly had different roles, including counting donations and handling donation boxes.
One report calls Anukalp Mishra the alleged mastermind, while another source lists some names differently.
The temple trust and three of its office-bearers were reportedly not charged in the case.
The police say messages and bank-account checks helped their investigation.
The accused have not been found guilty, and two of them are awaiting bail proceedings.
Police filed a roughly 70,000- to 74,000-page chargesheet naming eight accused in the alleged donation theft case.
The chargesheet says CCTV footage recorded 105 alleged theft incidents at the Ram temple premises.
Police reportedly recovered about Rs 79.8 lakh to Rs 79.85 lakh from seven accused, while no cash or valuables were recovered from Subhash Srivastava.
The report describes alleged roles involving donation counting, unauthorized access to donation-box keys, fund concealment and theft.
Trust officials Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao were reportedly made prosecution witnesses rather than accused, while bail hearings for two accused were deferred.
- Who
- Eight accused were named, including Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, and individuals identified in the reports as Avinash Shukla or Avinash Gupta and Karunesh Pandey or Krishnesh Pandey.
- What
- Police filed a chargesheet alleging theft, embezzlement, concealment of donation money, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.
- Where
- The alleged thefts concern the Ram temple premises in Ayodhya, with proceedings before an Anti-Corruption Court.
- When
- The FIR was registered on June 25, and the chargesheet was filed before the 90-day statutory deadline; the reports say it was filed on Wednesday.
- Why
- The case concerns alleged diversion and theft of cash and valuables donated by devotees.
Police and Prosecution Account
Defense and Legal Concerns
Alleged donation theft
Police and Prosecution Account
Police allege that the accused stole, diverted or concealed devotees' donations, citing CCTV footage, recoveries, text messages and arrests.
Defense and Legal Concerns
The allegations remain to be tested in court, and the reports do not state that any accused has been convicted.
Role of trust officials
Police and Prosecution Account
The chargesheet reportedly did not name the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust or its office-bearers as accused, citing insufficient evidence, and listed Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao as prosecution witnesses.
Defense and Legal Concerns
The Ayodhya Bar Association had sought an inquiry into the alleged roles of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao.
Bail hearing
Police and Prosecution Account
The chargesheet was filed before the 90-day deadline, and the bail hearing for two remaining accused was rescheduled.
Defense and Legal Concerns
Their lawyer said the accused had not yet received a copy of the chargesheet, while the local bar association objected to holding the hearing immediately.
Reported identities and figures
Police and Prosecution Account
One report identifies an accused as Avinash Gupta and another as Krishnesh Pandey, and gives the chargesheet length as nearly 70,000 pages.
Defense and Legal Concerns
The other report identifies them as Avinash Shukla and Karunesh Pandey and reports a 74,000-page chargesheet, creating discrepancies that were not resolved in the supplied articles.
Key facts
- Chargesheet length
- Reported as approximately 70,000 to 74,000 pages
- Accused named
- Eight arrested people
- Reported CCTV evidence
- 105 alleged theft incidents
- Reported recovery
- Rs 79.8 lakh according to cited sources; Rs 79.85 lakh according to the prosecution
- Investigation evidence
- Police reportedly examined more than five bank accounts and about 3,300 text messages
- Trust officials
- Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao were reportedly made prosecution witnesses
- Bail proceedings
- Hearings for Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav were deferred
Sources
Related news
SIT Charges Eight Over Ram Temple Donation Diversion
Ram Temple Donation Theft Case Bail Pleas Delayed
Ayodhya Police Charge Eight in Ram Mandir Donation Theft Case
Court Extends Custody of Eight Accused in Ram Temple Theft
Court Extends Custody of Eight in Ayodhya Temple Donation Case
Court Extends Custody of Eight in Ram Temple Theft Case
Digvijaya Singh Announces Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra Against Religious Plunder
