Ayodhya Temple Donation Scam: Key Accused Avinash Shukla in Police Custody, SBI Officials Under Scanner
Ayodhya police have secured 24-hour custody of Avinash Shukla, a key accused in the Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, following the recovery of over ₹20 lakh cash and valuables. The probe has also intensified to include the roles of State Bank of India officials involved in supervising donation counting. The Special Investigation Team is re-auditing trust accounts.
Key Highlights
- Avinash Shukla granted 24-hour police custody for interrogation.
- ₹20.4 lakh cash, gold, and US dollars recovered from Shukla.
- SBI Grade 3 officials supervising cash counting are under scanner.
- Eight individuals arrested so far in the multi-crore donation scam.
- SIT to re-audit Ram Temple Trust accounts for five years.
- Trust General Secretary and Trustee resigned taking moral responsibility.
The Ayodhya police have significantly advanced their investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple, securing a 24-hour police custody remand for Avinash Shukla, a pivotal accused in the case. This development follows the recovery of the largest sum of money, approximately ₹20.4 lakh, along with US dollars, gold chains, and silver articles, linked to Shukla from his properties. The custody, granted by an Ayodhya court on Thursday (July 02, 2026), allows investigators to intensively question Shukla about the modus operandi, identify other accused, and verify recoveries.
The probe has also widened to scrutinize the involvement of State Bank of India (SBI) officials who were tasked with supervising the cash-counting process at the temple. Senior police officials indicate that the embezzlement of such a substantial amount could not have occurred without the knowledge of these bank employees, particularly two Grade 3 staffers who regularly oversaw the counting. Reports suggest that SBI had previously alerted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust about potential irregularities and recommended staff changes, but this advice was reportedly overlooked.
The controversy initially surfaced on June 7, 2026, when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey alleged that donations ranging from ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore had been siphoned off from temple offerings. Following these serious allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government, at the request of the temple trust, constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13-14, 2026, to conduct a thorough probe. A preliminary inquiry by the SIT between June 15 and 20 flagged prima facie irregularities in the handling of cash and valuables, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on June 25, 2026.
So far, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the scam. These include outsourced employees involved in counting donations, such as Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias 'Tinnu', Manish Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava, in addition to Avinash Shukla. The total recovery from these arrested individuals stands at approximately ₹79.85 lakh. Investigations revealed that ₹12 lakh was found in Shukla's room, and an additional ₹8.4 lakh was returned by his brother to the Trust last week. Besides cash, foreign currency (over 1,100 US dollars), gold, and silver ornaments have also been recovered. A donation box labeled "Ramrajya Kosh" with a Paytm QR code was also seized from a yoga center where Shukla allegedly resided.
During interrogation, Shukla reportedly disclosed that the stolen money was temporarily concealed in washrooms within the temple complex before being gradually removed to avoid suspicion. He also detailed how surveillance gaps and procedural loopholes were exploited, with one key to the counting room held by co-accused Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu and the other by bank officials. The accused are believed to have used human shields to block CCTV cameras during the siphoning process. Police are currently reconstructing the events and verifying claims, including the location where the stolen money was allegedly divided among the conspirators.
The gravity of the situation prompted high-profile resignations, with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra tendering their resignations, citing moral responsibility. Their statements have been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation. The SIT has broadened its scope significantly, ordering a re-audit of the Trust's financial records for the past five years, encompassing construction expenditures, jewelry, and other valuable donations. Furthermore, police are scrutinizing the land and bank records of the accused and their family members to identify properties that might constitute 'proceeds of crime'. There's also an ongoing investigation into whether stolen gold ornaments were melted into gold biscuits to obscure their origin and make them untraceable. The scandal has drawn political attention, with the Congress party calling for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. The unfolding events highlight a deep breach of public trust concerning the donations for the revered Ram Temple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Avinash Shukla and what is his role in the Ayodhya donation scam?
Avinash Shukla is a key accused in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He was involved in the cash reconciliation process and is suspected of exploiting loopholes and surveillance gaps to siphon off funds. Police recovered over ₹20 lakh in cash and other valuables from him, making it the largest recovery among the arrested individuals.
What is the extent of the alleged donation scam at the Ayodhya Ram Temple?
The alleged scam came to light with claims of ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore being siphoned off. Initial estimates by some investigators suggest the total embezzlement could potentially exceed ₹200 crore. So far, over ₹79 lakh has been recovered from eight arrested individuals.
Why are SBI officials under scrutiny in this case?
State Bank of India officials who supervised the cash-counting process at the Ram Temple are under scanner because the large-scale embezzlement is believed to have occurred under their watch. Police suspect that such a significant fraud could not have happened without their knowledge. SBI had reportedly even warned the Trust about irregularities earlier.
What actions has the government and the temple trust taken?
The Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations, which is now conducting a five-year re-audit of the Trust's accounts. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their posts, taking moral responsibility for the controversy. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case.
What is the latest development in the investigation?
Ayodhya police have obtained 24-hour custody of Avinash Shukla to intensify interrogation and reconstruct the crime sequence. They are also investigating land and bank records of the accused, and exploring the possibility that stolen gold ornaments were melted down to hide their identity.
