SIT Finds 105 Theft Incidents and 300 Cash Removals in Ram Mandir Donation Case; ₹79 Lakh Recovered, 8 Accused Identified

CCTV footage tracking 105 distinct instances of donation theft inside the Ayodhya Ram Temple counting room forms the core of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation report against eight accused.

The report, accessed by CNN-News 18, show how counting personnel systematically pilfered donations, hiding currency bundles in places such as a bathroom before recovering cash, dollars, and jewellery worth lakhs based on disclosures made by the accused.

CCTV Cameras Capture Over 100 Unauthorised Cash Removals

A scan of counting room surveillance tapes revealed a persistent pattern of theft and collusion among staffers:

• Avinash Shukla: Allegedly captured directly removing donation money 85 times on CCTV.
• Karunesh Pandey: Allegedly seen removing money twice and assisting co-accused 68 times.
• Manish Yadav: Allegedly captured removing cash 16 times and assisting others 19 times.
• Anukalp Mishra: Allegedly seen assisting co-accused 56 times.
• Lavkush Mishra: Allegedly captured removing money once and assisting co-accused 52 times.
• Ramashankar Mishra: Allegedly seen removing donation money once, according to the police report.

Digital and circumstantial evidence against all eight accused has been compiled in the investigation report. Police claim mobile chats and Call Detail Records (CDRs) showed continued contact among the accused during the period.

Police Recover Cash, Currency And Jewellery During Searches

During searches at the residences linked to the accused, police reported recovering cash, foreign currency, metals and jewellery.

The recoveries listed in the police report include ₹16,82,040 from Anukalp Mishra, ₹18,07,063 from Karunesh Pandey and ₹2 lakh from Manish Yadav.

Police also reported recovering ₹14,25,000 from Lavkush Mishra and ₹7,32,170 from Ramashankar Mishra. The recovery from Ramashankar Mishra also included a white-metal coin and toe rings.

From Avinash Shukla, police claimed to have recovered ₹20,39,220, $1,121, more than 150 grams of white metal, over 8 grams of yellow metal and one ring.

Another accused, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, allegedly had ₹1 lakh recovered from him.

The total cash recovery listed against these seven accused persons comes to ₹79,85,493, apart from the foreign currency, metals and jewellery.

Police said the recovered cash, valuables and documents form part of the ongoing investigation and are being examined to establish their source and possible connection with the case.

Searches Conducted At Accused Persons' Residences

Police conducted searches at the residences of the accused as part of the investigation. Besides cash and valuables, officers also recovered documents and other materials, which are being examined as part of the probe.

The investigation is focused on establishing the role of each accused and determining the relevance and source of the recovered money and valuables.

The police are continuing to verify the seized material and the financial and other links between the accused persons.

Trust Officials Named Prosecution Witnesses

The investigation report contains official statements from key individuals, including former general secretary Champat Rai, Dr Anil Mishra, and witness Gopal Nagar Katte. Both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have been named prosecution witnesses.

Champat Rai's statement specifically mentions the June 4 incident and the subsequent recovery of money from a bathroom. Additionally, a counting staffer's statement alleges that the accused deliberately hid bundles of currency notes during the counting process.

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