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Ram temple donation case: Fresh recoveries likely as police continue grilling three key accused
The interrogation has generated fresh leads, prompting investigators to plan additional searches on Thursday.
The investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple entered a crucial phase on Wednesday as Ayodhya Police intensified the custodial interrogation of three key accused to reconstruct the alleged conspiracy, trace the money trail and identify others who may have been involved.
Officials indicated that fresh searches and recoveries are likely on Thursday based on disclosures made during questioning.
Ayodhya Police secured nearly 40 hours of police custody of Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Karunesh Pandey, who were brought from Ayodhya district jail to the police lines on Wednesday morning. The trio is being questioned by investigators in the presence of senior police officers at Ayodhya Police Lines.
Sources said the accused were confronted with CCTV footage, witness statements, attendance registers, bank records and other documentary evidence to establish their individual roles in the alleged diversion of temple donations and identify other persons who may have participated in the conspiracy.
Police teams also carried out searches in Milkipur and Inayatnagar, including at locations linked to relatives of Anukalp Mishra. Investigators are examining whether the accused acquired movable or immovable assets using cash or digital transactions allegedly linked to the diverted donations, while scrutinising bank accounts, financial records, property documents and electronic evidence to establish the money trail.
According to highly placed sources, the interrogation has generated fresh leads, prompting investigators to plan additional searches on Thursday. Officials expect further documentary, digital or other material evidence to be recovered, which could help strengthen the case and establish the full scope of the alleged conspiracy.
The custodial interrogation is also expected to corroborate evidence already gathered by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Its preliminary report alleged that the three accused were among those captured on CCTV concealing currency notes in their pockets during the temple’s donation-counting process. The report documented around 70 such instances and highlighted repeated violations of the standard operating procedures governing the handling and banking of temple donations.
Officials said the evidence gathered during the remand period will be crucial in identifying the entire network behind the alleged embezzlement and tracing the proceeds of the alleged crime.
