How chance discovery of Rs 40,000 in loo helped blow lid off Ayodhya Ram temple theft
LUCKNOW: While the donation theft at Ram temple has triggered a deep probe and an overhaul of the entire collection process, it was a chance recovery of some cash and an alert guard that blew the lid off the well orchestrated embezzlement of devotees’ faith and money.According to sources associated with the investigation, the breakthrough came sometime in the last week of May when a gatekeeper noticed bundles of currency notes totalling Rs 40,000 concealed in a washroom and alerted a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.The tip-off prompted senior Trust functionary to rush to the temple, following which security officials and other trustees were informed.
The discovery led to immediate suspicion that donation money was being diverted from the temple’s counting system.Sources said the Trust initiated a preliminary internal inquiry before formally approaching the police. Trust informed the district administration about the incident on June 4.Police subsequently launched an investigation by questioning employees associated with the donation counting centre and carrying out searches at multiple locations.Sources said that employees suspected of involvement were initially questioned in the presence of senior Trust officials before investigators expanded the operation into a series of coordinated raids based on leads that emerged during questioning.Within 17 hours of the complaint being lodged, police teams working alongside Trust representatives recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash from multiple locations in Ayodhya and other UP districts.Search operations were conducted at premises linked to the accused in Nanpara in Bahraich district, Kunda in Pratapgarh district, and several other locations.
Police searched the residence of accused Ramashankar Mishra in Nanpara and the ancestral home of another accused, Avinash Shukla, in Pratapgarh.Further recoveries of allegedly stolen money and jewels were made based on disclosures by accused Anukalp Mishra, his relative Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh, a resident of Ayodhya’s Naka area.
These disclosures helped police trace additional cash that had allegedly been concealed after being removed from the temple’s donation collection system.Sources said the initial recovery operation was supervised jointly by senior Trust representatives and district police officials. Those present during the operation included the then Trust general secretary Champat Rai, trustees Gopal Rao and Anil Mishra, and senior officers of Ayodhya police.The investigation has revealed that a 21-member team was constituted by the Trust to conduct the preliminary inquiry soon after information regarding the alleged theft reached Champat Rai.
This team examined the functioning of the donation counting centre, questioned employees and coordinated with the police before the formal criminal investigation began.The Special Investigation Team, which is now probing the case, is reconstructing the entire sequence of events to determine how the alleged embezzlement was carried out, who all were involved and for how long the operation may have continued undetected.
Investigators are examining the suspected modus operandi, including the handling of donation cash, access to the counting centre, movement of employees, and the possible concealment and transportation of stolen money.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news.
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