Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Court Extends Custody of Eight in Ayodhya Temple Donation Case
A court in Ayodhya is investigating claims that donation money from the Ram temple was taken improperly.
Eight people who helped count donations were arrested.
The court has decided they must remain in jail until September 21.
This is called judicial custody.
The court wants police to bring their investigation report and case diary.
Investigators say they have recovered Rs 79.85 lakh.
One accused says he was wrongly blamed.
He also says other people helped count the donations.
The court has not yet decided whether the accused are guilty.
An Ayodhya court extended the judicial custody of all eight accused until September 21.
The accused were arrested after an FIR was registered on June 25 over alleged donation theft.
Investigators have recovered cash and valuables worth Rs 79.85 lakh, according to the prosecution.
The court directed police to submit the case diary and investigation report at the next hearing.
The defense says bail hearings were delayed and that some accused were falsely implicated.
- Who
- Eight people involved in counting donations at the Ram temple, including bank employees, a counting-process supervisor and a driver, are accused.
- What
- A court extended their judicial custody in a case involving alleged embezzlement of devotees' cash and valuables.
- When
- The custody was extended on Friday until September 21; the FIR was registered on June 25.
- Where
- The case is being heard in an Anti-Corruption Court in Ayodhya.
- Why
- The extension concerns an investigation into alleged irregularities and theft of temple donations.
Prosecution Allegations
Defense Position
Nature of the case
Prosecution Allegations
The prosecution case concerns alleged embezzlement of cash and valuables offered by devotees, with Rs 79.85 lakh reportedly recovered.
Defense Position
The defense disputes the allegations and says accused Srivastava was falsely implicated.
Who was involved in counting
Prosecution Allegations
The eight arrested people were involved in counting donations, including bank employees, the process supervisor and a driver.
Defense Position
The defense says several other people besides the eight accused also participated in the counting process.
Bail and investigation report
Prosecution Allegations
Police have been directed to submit the case diary and investigation report at the next hearing.
Defense Position
The defense says bail hearings were repeatedly deferred because the investigating officer did not submit the report and may seek bail if the case diary is not produced.
- Court
- Special Judge Rajat Verma, Anti-Corruption Court
- Accused
- Eight people
- Next hearing
- September 21
- FIR date
- June 25
- Reported recovery
- Rs 79.85 lakh
- Investigation body
- Special Investigation Team set up by the Uttar Pradesh government
- Police direction
- Submit the case diary and investigation report at the next hearing