New Delhi: Troubles are mounting for the eight accused in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case. A decision has been made to extend their judicial remand; their judicial custody has been prolonged by 14 days. The eight accused Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Ramashankar Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey, Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu), and Subhash Chandra Srivastava, who are currently lodged in jail, were produced before the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) via video conferencing.
After hearing the statements, the court extended the judicial custody until September 18. The police have been investigating the matter for approximately 72 days, though charge sheets have not yet been filed for all the accused. This marks the seventh extension of remand for the accused in the donation theft case.
Questions Raised Regarding Recoveries
An application was filed in court on behalf of the accused, questioning the police’s actions regarding the sections invoked for remand and the recovery of items; however, this application was rejected. Meanwhile, the police have taken the accused on remand for interrogation and, based on information provided by them, have visited suspected locations and recovered several valuable items.
Court Seeks Report
On Saturday, a bail application was filed in the court of the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) on behalf of the eight accused, who have been in jail since June 26 on charges of stealing donations. This application was submitted after a period of approximately 72 days. The court has registered the application and summoned a report from the police station.
Accused Claim Innocence
While filing the bail application, the accused Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Ramashankar Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey, Ramshankar Yadav, and Subhash Srivastava maintained their innocence. They alleged that the investigating officer has been unable to determine exactly which individual stole what amount of money from the temple premises.
Recovery Disclosed by the Trust
Reference has also been made to the SIT report in this matter, wherein the Trust itself stated that items worth approximately ₹81.19 lakh—including foreign currency, jewellery, and other valuables—had been recovered. Concurrently, the investigating officer has classified these very items as stolen property, documenting their recovery from the accused on June 26; specifically, they were retrieved from a locker under the possession and control of the Trustee and complainant, Krishna Mohan.
The application that was rejected had termed this recovery suspicious. It was alleged that the accused were being used as a shield to protect senior office-bearers of the Trust. Before this, the accused had employed various legal tactics, including levelling serious allegations regarding the sections invoked for arrest and remand, as well as questioning the police’s modus operandi. However, the court has dismissed the application filed by the accused.
