Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Jul 1: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has intensified its investigation after one of the arrested accused allegedly revealed that stolen cash was hidden in washrooms before being smuggled out of the temple complex.
According to media reports citing police sources, accused Avinash Shukla was questioned for nearly two hours by the SIT after obtaining court permission. During the interrogation, he allegedly confessed to stealing crores of rupees and detailed the modus operandi adopted by the accused.
Investigators were told that one member of the group allegedly removed cash during the donation-counting process while others formed a shield around him to block CCTV cameras. The money was then allegedly concealed inside washrooms and later taken out of the temple premises when the opportunity arose.
Sources said the accused were familiar with the locations of surveillance cameras inside the temple complex, enabling them to avoid detection.
The SIT is also examining the role of former trustee Mishra, after Shukla allegedly claimed that the accused faced little scrutiny because of their proximity to trust officials.
Mishra and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai resigned from their respective posts last week. Both have been questioned by the SIT. However, there has been no official statement linking either of them to any wrongdoing, and the investigation is ongoing.
The probe has also focused on access to the temple's donation-counting room. According to sources, another arrested accused, Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav, allegedly possessed one of the keys to the counting room, while the second key was with bank personnel overseeing the counting process.
Cash donations collected in four donation boxes are counted under the supervision of the State Bank of India (SBI), which has engaged a private agency for the task. The counting team comprises 14 members, including 11 bank personnel and three representatives of the temple trust.
Investigators are probing whether there was any collusion involving those associated with the counting process that enabled the alleged siphoning of donations.
Police also said the accused allegedly admitted that a portion of the stolen money was used to purchase land and a house. The SIT is now tracing financial transactions and assets linked to the accused to establish the money trail.
Eight people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on June 13 to investigate the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple.
Investigators are also examining how the alleged theft continued over an extended period without being detected and whether more individuals were involved.