Ayodhya| Abira Mukherjee | Pranchal Srivastava<\/span>1 minute ago<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is questioning Ram Mandir trustee Dr Anil Mishra in a closed room inside the Ayodhya temple complex in connection with the alleged donation theft case. Invited trust member Gopal Rao has been asked to wait outside while the questioning continues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The development comes after SIT questioned trust General Secretary Champat Rai for nearly three hours on Sunday. Investigators are now questioning Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao to cross-check his statements. The probe is focused on their alleged role in the appointment of accused Lavkush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra.<\/p>\n The SIT reached the temple at around 3 pm on Thursday. Earlier, the team had conducted an extensive investigation between 15 and 20 June.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ayodhya Police have taken jailed accused Avinash Shukla on a 24-hour remand. Investigators had earlier recovered a Ram Mandir donation chest, \u20b920 lakh in cash, more than 1,000 US dollars and jewellery from his house. Police allege that Shukla was involved in counting temple donations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Separately, the administration has begun preparations to demolish the newly built houses of the accused in the alleged donation theft case. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has identified properties that either lack approved building plans or were constructed in violation of regulations.<\/p>\n Bulldozer action on properties of accused likely<\/strong><\/p>\n According to sources, the government is preparing strict action against those accused in the donation theft case. The administration has begun preparations for bulldozer action on properties linked to the accused. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has identified houses where construction violates rules or where building maps were not approved.<\/p>\n Properties under scrutiny include houses built by the accused after joining temple-related work. These include the under-construction house of accused Lavkush Mishra in Shahadatganj and Anukalp Mishra\u2019s house in Kaushalpuri, which may face demolition. ADA is likely to issue notices to them soon.<\/p>\n A video has also surfaced showing accused Avinash Shukla\u2019s brother Amit Shukla holding bundles of cash, which is currently under police investigation.<\/p>\n Further questioning of trust members likely<\/strong><\/p>\n After questioning accused Avinash Shukla in Ayodhya jail on June 30, police are continuing their investigation. Earlier, Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai was questioned for nearly three hours on Sunday. Now, Anil Mishra may also be questioned for cross-verification, particularly regarding the appointment of accused Lavkush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra.<\/p>\n The case first came to light on June 7. The Uttar Pradesh government formed an SIT on June 13. An FIR was registered on June 25, and eight accused, including Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, were arrested. On the same day, Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr. Anil Mishra also resigned.<\/p>\n For more updates on the Ram Temple donation theft case, follow the live blog below.<\/strong><\/p>\n Congress MP K. C. Venugopal has raised concerns over the alleged irregularities in donations to the Ram Mandir trust, stating that the trust was nominated by the central government. He said that the donations were made by poor devotees who have deep faith in Lord Ram, and questioned attempts to justify the alleged wrongdoing.<\/p>\n He further alleged that those defending the incident and criticising the people raising questions are effectively protecting the accused. Venugopal stressed that the matter requires a fair and impartial investigation to ensure accountability and transparency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Accused Tinnu Yadav\u2019s brother Dinesh Yadav has alleged that senior individuals are trying to protect themselves by implicating smaller players in the Ram Mandir donation theft case. Defending his brother, he claimed that Tinnu is innocent and has been falsely framed. He further alleged that Champat Rai and Anil Mishra are responsible for framing him in the case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Police have taken jailed accused Avinash Shukla on a 24-hour remand in connection with the ongoing donation theft investigation. During earlier searches at his residence, officials recovered \u20b920 lakh in cash, over 1,000 US dollars, and jewellery.<\/p>\n The accused was produced before the court today, where police had sought a 48-hour remand. Investigators are now questioning him to determine how many others may be involved in the alleged donation theft case and to examine the possible role of trust members in the incident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Maharashtra Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have \u201ccorrupted the entire system\u201d, claiming that even the Ram Mandir issue has not remained untouched.<\/p>\n Referring to the alleged donation theft case related to the Ram Temple, he said that \u201cmere investigation is not enough\u201d and argued that the political environment created in the country has weakened democratic institutions. He further alleged that political parties are being split using money power, legislators and MPs are being \u201cbought and sold\u201d, and lawmakers are being shifted between places with consent from the top leadership. According to him, such widespread corruption in the system makes even sacred institutions vulnerable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the alleged roles of Champat Rai, Trustee Anil Mishra, and invited member Gopal Rao in the Ram Temple donation theft case.<\/p>\n According to sources, the SIT is currently questioning accused individuals in Ayodhya and expanding its investigation into the involvement of the temple trust officials. Earlier, the SIT conducted a six-day probe, during which it reportedly gathered evidence against eight accused, leading to their arrest and the transfer of the case to the police for further investigation.<\/p>\n It is also being reported that a meeting of the temple trust is scheduled in Ayodhya on July 6, where a decision on the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra may be taken. Before this, the SIT aims to establish the exact roles of those under scrutiny.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that action will be taken against anyone found guilty of theft. He added that the statements being made by Akhilesh Yadav are pushing the Samajwadi Party towards decline.<\/p>\n Maurya further said that those who worked selflessly during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, including Champat Rai and others, are deeply hurt by the incident. However, he questioned the relevance of giving excessive attention to the issue, stating that while action will be taken against anyone involved in wrongdoing, there is no justification for turning it into a major controversy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has once again reached Ayodhya to investigate the alleged Ram Temple donation theft. The team is likely to question trustee Anil Mishra today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ahead of a march to the Ram Janmabhoomi police station to seek the registration of an FIR in the Ram Temple donation theft case, Faizabad Bar Association President Kalika Prasad Mishra said, “We have reached a point from which there is no turning back.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Police, the Special Security Force (SSF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are deployed to secure the Ram Temple, with personnel normally rotated every 15 days. However, this rotation reportedly did not apply to the donation counting team.<\/p>\n Instead, many of the same staff remained assigned to counting duties for more than one or two years, as the rosters were allegedly controlled by counting in-charges Subhash and Tinnu Yadav. Investigators believe this allowed the alleged manipulation to continue unchecked. The role of private security personnel is also under investigation.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, there is growing speculation that the Ram Temple donation theft case could be handed over to the CBI for further investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has issued a notice to Supriya Mishra, wife of Lavkush Mishra, an accused in the Ram Temple donation theft case, over a building being constructed in her name. The authority said its investigation found violations of building regulations during the construction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ayodhya police have filed a remand application in court on Thursday seeking custody of accused Avinash Shukla for further questioning in the Ram Mandir donation theft case.<\/p>\n Earlier on Tuesday, police had also interrogated him inside the jail. During the investigation of a house in Ayodhya where Avinash reportedly ran a yoga centre, police recovered an iron box marked \u201cRam Rajya Kosh\u201d.<\/p>\n Police said that so far Avinash Shukla has emerged as a key accused in the donation theft case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ayodhya police reached the Ram Mandir on Thursday around 11 am as part of the investigation into the alleged donation theft case. The team conducted the inspection for nearly two hours.<\/p>\n Officials examined the room where temple offerings are counted. According to sources, Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari led the investigation team. He took detailed information from staff about the entire process of counting donations.<\/p>\n Some employees were also questioned about the accused and their possible involvement. The team also tried to understand the extent of influence the accused had in temple administration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.bhaskarassets.com\/web2images\/1884\/2026\/07\/02\/comp-14-3_1782974621.gif\")
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