Ram Mandir Donation Scam:

Eight Accused to Be Produced in Ayodhya Court Today as SIT Probe Deepens

Report By Y-Trendz

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | June 29, 2026

Eight individuals arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya are set to be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court today — Monday,

June 29 — as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into one of India's most politically sensitive financial scandals continues to unfold. The case, which has rocked the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, triggered high-level resignations, and ignited a fierce national political debate, enters a new chapter today when investigators are expected to seek fresh police custody for deeper interrogation of the accused.

From 'False Narrative' to Arrests

Claims that crores of rupees in devotees' donations had gone missing were initially dismissed by both the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the Uttar Pradesh government as a "false narrative." But the issue has since escalated into a full SIT probe, an FIR, the arrest of eight people — including a close aide of the trust's former general-secretary Champat Rai — and ultimately the resignation of Rai and trustee Anil Mishra on Friday, June 26.

A court in Ayodhya on Friday sent all eight accused to judicial custody till June 29. KC Verma, Prosecution Officer at the Ayodhya CJM Court, told reporters that all eight accused had been remanded to judicial custody till Monday and would be produced before the court again today. "In total, Rs 79,85,493 was recovered from them, except for one accused, Subhash. Nothing was recovered from him, though he was involved in the conspiracy. Different amounts were recovered from the others," he said.

The Eight Accused

The eight arrested individuals are Ramashankar Yadav (alias Tinnu), Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Ramashankar Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava. They include former employees and contractual staff associated with the temple's donation collection and counting system. The SIT is examining the functioning of the donation counting unit and the alleged methods through which money meant for the temple was diverted.

Among the accused is Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav — former driver of Champat Rai — who stepped down as the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reportedly on moral grounds. According to police, Yadav employed Manish Kumar, his kin, at the temple's cash-counting unit. Police have booked all accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences including theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

How the Scandal Unravelled

Allegations of embezzlement were first raised by a former accounts supervisor, Mahipal Singh, who claimed he was replaced after voicing concerns. The issue gained political traction when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded an investigation and greater transparency.

The controversy moved beyond politics after advocate Mohit Ashok approached the Allahabad High Court on June 12, seeking an independent investigation. A day after the petition was filed, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT at the trust's request. The SIT, led by senior administrative and police officers, spent six days in Ayodhya examining donation collection, counting, storage, and surveillance procedures, and submitted its preliminary report to the government on June 23.

Soon after, an FIR was filed and the eight accused were arrested. As part of raids on accused premises, from the house of Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, officers recovered jewellery, cash, and property documents. A special court dealing with the Prevention of Corruption Act was not sitting on Friday due to the public holiday on account of Muharram, which is why the remand was granted until Monday.

High-Level Resignations Shake the Trust

On Friday, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down, taking "moral responsibility" for the controversy. Their exits mark the most significant institutional fallout from the scandal yet, leaving the Trust — which manages one of the most visited religious sites in the world — under extraordinary pressure to demonstrate accountability.

The trust reported an annual income of ₹3.27 billion in 2024-25, reflecting the scale of donations flowing into the temple since its grand inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024. Especially during the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj, the Ram temple saw a massive surge in footfall, drawing enormous collections of cash and precious offerings.

Political Firestorm

The case has ignited sharp political crossfire at the national level. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that cash worth about Rs 200 crore might have been stolen, besides diamonds and jewels offered to Lord Ram, including 200 kg of silver that was also allegedly stolen. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed his party had never received a receipt for the Rs 1 crore donation it had made to the trust, and alleged attempts were being made to shield Rai and local BJP leaders.

A public interest litigation was filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement of cash, gold, and silver donations. The petitioner also sought a forensic audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), a court-monitored probe, and directions for structural reforms in the management of temple donations.

On June 15, advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi submitted a letter petition to the Supreme Court, urging the court to order an independent investigation by the CBI. On June 20, another PIL was filed before the Lucknow High Court demanding a judicial commission headed by a High Court or Supreme Court judge and the freezing of the Trust's bank accounts.

What Happens Today

The police are now preparing to seek police remand to interrogate the accused and ascertain how they hatched and executed a plan to embezzle the devotees' donations, running into crores. Forensic analysis of seized materials, cross-verification with Trust records, and deeper CCTV scrutiny will likely form the backbone of the ongoing probe. If more names surface during the investigation, further action will be taken promptly.

As the eight accused face the court today, the Ram Mandir donation case stands at a pivotal juncture — one that tests not merely the accountability of a religious trust, but the faith of millions of devotees who have offered their prayers, gold, silver, and hard-earned money at one of Hinduism's most sacred shrines.

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Report compiled from ANI, PTI, The Federal, National Herald, India.com, and court sources.