Ram Mandir Donation Theft Case: Accused Operated As Organised Gang, Bought Land Plots, Cars, With Stolen Money | Updates

Ram Mandir Donation Theft Case: The investigation into the theft of offerings at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya has intensified after one of the eight accused, Avinash Shukla, revealed that the accused operated as an 'organised gang'. Shukla revealed several secrets during his police remand on Friday.

ALSO READ: Badrinath Dham In Spotlight Over Donation Theft Allegations Amid Ram Mandir Row; Probe Underway

What Avinash Shukla Told Police?

While police initially warned him not to visit his ancestral home in Pratapgarh, they took him to various locations in Ayodhya for investigation.

During the 13-hour interrogation, Shukla revealed that the eight accused gathered every evening near the Kosi Parikrama Marg to divide the stolen offerings equally. Following this, the police seized a car that Shukla admitted had been purchased with the stolen money, Jagran.com reported.

He further revealed that he used the stolen money to buy land and another vehicle in his and his brother's names, and had built a house with financial assistance from co-accused Subhash Srivastava. After interrogation, Shukla was sent to jail by the police.

Accused Invested Stolen Money In Properties And Relatives' Names

The investigation into the Ram Temple theft case has revealed that the eight accused stole cash daily during the donation counting process. They divided the stolen money at various hideouts, like an organised gang, and included anyone who could help in case of any problem.

The accused did not keep the stolen money in bank accounts. Instead, they invested the stolen money into movable and immovable properties, the details of which are now emerging.

- Among the accused, Luvkush Mishra purchased land in his wife Supriya's name, conducted transactions worth lakhs through her account, and began building a house in the city.

- Another accused, Anukulp, bought a flat in Noida under his uncle Bijendra Mishra's name, lent money to a relative to purchase land in front of BBD College in Lucknow, and extended financial support to other family members.

- Another accused, Ramshankar Yadav, invested in land and housing, while his nephew Manish, who had recently landed a job, did not have much money, but he also spent a significant amount on the Bhagwat Katha.

ALSO READ: Ram Mandir Donation Theft: Will Champat Rai Be Removed As Trust's Gen Secy? All Eyes On July 6 Meeting

Avinash Shukla Names Tinnu Yadav As Mastermind

During his remand, the police interrogated Shukla in several rounds and showed him 45 days of CCTV footage from the temple premises. After being shown a video of him taking money from the offerings, Shukla confessed to his involvement in this crime for a long time, the report added.

Shukla revealed that while the stolen money was divided equally among all the accused, some individuals took larger shares. He named Tinnu Yadav as the mastermind who held the upper hand in the entire theft. Shukla stated that the gang operated without fear of going to jail because Yadav repeatedly assured them they would face no consequences. He added that the group trusted Yadav and co-accused Subhash, and admitted that the gang had erased the temple's CCTV footage several times.

(With Inputs From Jagran.com)