Curious case of Rs 58 lakh recovered by Ram Temple Trust before theft probe began
The Ram Mandir donation theft case has taken a turn with new revelations raising questions about the culpability of people working for the temple’s trust. Sources have told India Today TV that nearly Rs 58 lakh of money stolen from the donation proceeds was traced and recovered even before a Special Investigation Team appointed by the UP government began an investigation into the matter.
According to the sources, certain members of the Trust carried out their own internal investigation and recovered Rs 58 lakh from Avinash Shukla, who is among the eight people arrested last week in the theft case. This recovery was made several days before the allegations of theft became public and Special Investigation Team was constituted to look into the matter.
The SIT’s findings, submitted to the UP government last week, would lead to registration of an FIR and the arrests of eight persons, including Avniash Shukla.
Sources said that on June 5, representatives of the Trust, acting on the instructions of then General Secretary Champat Rai, accompanied police personnel to the residence of accused Avinash Shukla. During the visit, nearly Rs 58 lakh was allegedly recovered. Soon after, Rai, along with trustee Anil Mishra, stepped down on moral grounds.
The development is significant because the recovery predates the registration of a formal complaint, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Sources further claimed that between June 5 and June 8, the remaining amount was returned by the accused through bank transfers.
The sequence suggests that efforts to recover the allegedly embezzled money had already begun before the matter formally entered the legal process.
According to sources, the timeline unfolded as follows:
June 4: Information about the alleged theft reaches the Trust.
June 5: Trust officials and police visit an accused’s residence; nearly Rs 58 lakh is recovered.
June 5-8: Remaining amount is returned through bank transfers.
June 7: Allegations of donation theft enter the public domain.
Subsequently, formal legal proceedings began and the investigation expanded.
The timeline is now emerging as a key focus of the probe, with agencies examining why recoveries allegedly began before the registration of a formal complaint and whether any procedural lapses occurred during the initial handling of the case.
The latest revelations build on details that surfaced earlier regarding the Trust’s knowledge of the alleged theft before it became public.
India Today TV had previously reported that Trust officials and police had reached the residence of one of the accused on June 5, days before the controversy erupted in the public domain.
CCTV footage linked to the operation later surfaced, showing Avinash Shukla being escorted by police personnel while carrying a black bag believed to contain the recovered cash.
The authenticity of the CCTV footage and the claims surrounding the sequence of events have not been independently verified.
ARRESTS, RESIGNATIONS AND SIT PROBE
The alleged donation theft first came into public focus on June 7 after claims surfaced that offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple had been misappropriated.
As the controversy escalated, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The probe eventually led to the arrest of eight accused in the case. Police later carried out simultaneous raids at their residences and recovered money allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement. The accused were subsequently sent to judicial custody, while investigators continued to pursue the money trail and examine the larger conspiracy angle.
The controversy also triggered a shake-up within the Trust.
Champat Rai, who served as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down amid growing scrutiny surrounding the case. Their exits came as the SIT probe widened and questions mounted over the handling of donations and oversight mechanisms.
According to sources, the SIT probe has uncovered multiple alleged lapses in cash handling, employee verification and CCTV monitoring systems. Investigators have also examined appointments linked to outsourced personnel involved in donation management and other administrative processes.
The SIT has since submitted its findings to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The case has also sparked a political confrontation.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned how the alleged irregularities could have gone unnoticed despite the government’s close monitoring of developments in Ayodhya. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), meanwhile, has called for a transparent investigation while insisting that those found guilty should face strict action.
With fresh details now emerging about the days preceding the FIR, investigators are examining whether the alleged pre-complaint recovery of funds has any bearing on the larger case and whether established procedures were followed during the initial response to the suspected theft.
The answers to those questions could prove crucial as authorities continue to piece together the timeline of one of the most sensitive financial controversies to hit the Ram Temple Trust.
