Ayodhya Ram Temple Fund Theft: Mobile Chats Reveal Accused Discussed Distribution of ‘Theft Proceeds’ in May 2025

Ayodhya: Mobile chats between the accused in the alleged Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case have revealed that they discussed the “distribution” of the “theft proceeds” as early as May 2025, indicating that the embezzlement had been underway for a considerable period, sources in the investigating team said.

Forensic examination of mobile phones seized from the eight arrested accused has recovered deleted WhatsApp conversations in which the suspects spoke about sharing the stolen money. According to sources, the chats also point to disputes among the accused over how the “stolen money”, described as running into several crores, would be divided. The recovery of these chats has strengthened the view that the pilferage was not a recent or isolated act but part of a sustained operation.

The arrests followed the registration of an FIR in late June 2026 after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police probed complaints of large-scale embezzlement of cash offerings from donation boxes at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust-managed Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The eight accused — Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Kumar Yadav, Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, Karunesh Pandey and Ram Shankar Mishra — were taken into custody. Six of them were associated with the outsourced agency responsible for counting donations at the temple, while others had links to temple operations. CCTV footage from the Pilgrim Facility Centre reportedly captured some of the accused removing bundles of cash and concealing them in their clothes and socks during the counting process.

Nearly ₹79.85 lakh in cash has been recovered from the accused so far. The suspects were produced before a special court in Ayodhya and have been sent to judicial custody.

Investigators suspect that between ₹6 lakh and ₹8 lakh were being siphoned off daily from the donations at one point. The operation is believed to have gained momentum during the period of high footfall, including the Maha Kumbh in 2025, when offerings surged significantly. The recovered chats from May 2025 now suggest the racket had deeper roots and was being actively managed well before the recent surge in scrutiny.

Sources said the accused had attempted to destroy digital evidence by deleting WhatsApp chats and formatting their phones before arrest. However, forensic experts were able to retrieve the conversations, providing crucial leads on the conspiracy and the distribution of proceeds.

The probe has also touched upon the sudden change in lifestyle of some accused, including property purchases and asset acquisitions. One accused reportedly bought a car in May 2025 shortly after joining the temple’s cash-handling operations. The SIT is examining whether temple funds were used for land deals or other investments.

As of now all eight accused remain in judicial custody. The SIT, which has been granted extensions to complete its investigation, is continuing to question the suspects and verify financial trails. The FIR also mentions “others” as accused, leaving room for further names to be added.

The case has drawn widespread attention because of the sanctity of the Ram Temple, which attracts millions of devotees and substantial donations. While the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has maintained that it cooperated with the probe, the revelations from the recovered chats have raised fresh questions about internal oversight mechanisms.

Investigating officials said the focus now is on establishing the full extent of the conspiracy, identifying all beneficiaries, and tracing the movement of the allegedly embezzled funds. Further custodial interrogation and forensic analysis of electronic devices and financial records are underway.

The development marks a significant turn in the high-profile investigation, shifting attention from the immediate act of theft to a possible long-running organised embezzlement within the temple’s donation management system.