Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Ram Temple Donation Theft Case Bail Pleas Delayed
Two people accused in a case about stolen donations from the Ram Temple did not have their bail requests heard.
Their lawyer said he needed time to study a very large chargesheet.
The chargesheet is about 70,000 pages long and lists 173 witnesses.
Investigators also collected videos showing 105 alleged incidents of money being diverted.
The case concerns cash and valuables donated by devotees in Ayodhya.
Eight people have been arrested.
Prosecutors said nearly Rs 79.85 lakh was recovered from the accused, except one of them.
The other six accused whose bail requests were rejected plan to go to the Allahabad High Court.
Bail applications for Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav were not heard on September 25.
Their lawyer asked for time to study the recently filed, roughly 70,000-page chargesheet.
The Supreme Court-mandated SIT named 173 witnesses and cited video evidence from 105 alleged cash-diversion incidents.
Eight people were arrested after an FIR was registered on June 25 over alleged theft of temple donations.
The prosecution said Rs 79.85 lakh was recovered from all accused except Srivastava; six other accused plan to approach the Allahabad High Court.
- Who
- Accused Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav, their lawyer Kul Shekhar Singh, and investigators from the Supreme Court-mandated Special Investigation Team.
- What
- The bail applications of Srivastava and Yadav were not pressed while their lawyer sought time to examine the chargesheet.
- When
- September 25; the FIR was registered on June 25, and the chargesheet was recently filed.
- Where
- The matter was scheduled before the Special Judge of the Anti-Corruption Court in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The lawyer said he needed time to study the approximately 70,000-page chargesheet before filing fresh bail applications.
Defense position
Prosecution and investigation case
Bail hearing
Defense position
The defense did not press the applications for Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav and said it would examine the chargesheet before seeking bail again.
Prosecution and investigation case
The prosecution has filed a detailed chargesheet and is pursuing the case against the accused.
Alleged diversion of donations
Defense position
The article reports the defense's request for more time but does not provide a detailed response to the allegations.
Prosecution and investigation case
Investigators cited video evidence from 105 alleged instances of cash diversion during donation counting, along with other documentary and forensic evidence.
Recovery of money
Defense position
Subhash Srivastava was the only accused from whom the prosecution said no suspected embezzled money was recovered.
Prosecution and investigation case
The prosecution said Rs 79.85 lakh was recovered from all the other accused during the investigation.
- Case
- Alleged embezzlement of cash and valuables donated at the Ayodhya Ram Temple
- Accused arrested
- Eight people
- Chargesheet length
- Approximately 70,000 pages
- Witnesses listed
- 173
- Video evidence
- 105 alleged instances of cash diversion during donation counting
- Money recovered
- Rs 79.85 lakh from all accused except Subhash Srivastava
- Investigation evidence
- CCTV footage, witness statements, banking and financial records, and a forensic audit