Police Recover Over Seventy Lakh Cash and Foreign Currency in Ram Mandir Probe

Ayodhya:  The investigation into the high-profile embezzlement of offerings at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir has widened significantly following massive financial and physical recoveries. The Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) and local police have successfully seized ₹79.85 lakh in domestic cash, alongside gold ornaments, silver, and US dollars, exposing a highly organized network operating inside the temple complex.

 During custodial interrogation, key accused Avinash Shukla disclosed a sophisticated modus operandi. Racket members strategically manipulated security blind spots inside the cash-counting room. While one person siphoned off loose money, others formed a human shield to block surveillance cameras.

The stolen cash was temporarily concealed inside complex washrooms before being smuggled out in small tranches.  A fresh raid conducted at a local yoga center, where Shukla resided for a decade, led to the seizure of a rogue donation box.

Labeled "Ramrajya Kosh," the box features a fraudulent digital payment QR code designed to bypass official accounts. In parallel raids, teams searched rural locations, even combing through cattle fodder stacks at co-accused Lavkush Mishra’s residence, resulting in his father being detained.  

The recovery breakdown includes ₹20.39 lakh and $1,121 USD from Shukla, ₹18.07 lakh from Karunesh Pandey, and substantial cash amounts from four other arrested contract handlers. Crucially, the SIT has expanded its scanner to verify the duty rosters and access logs of nearly 400 private security personnel deployed at the complex to identify potential internal facilitation.  

With the financial trail indicating illegal investments in regional real estate and hostels, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has extended the SIT’s investigation deadline until July 15. Meanwhile, Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai has formally recorded his statement, offering to resign while taking moral responsibility for the system breach.