Lawyers Boycott the Accused; Supreme Court Declines Immediate CBI Hearing

CCTV Blind Spots, Hidden ₹500 Notes and Fake Deposit Bundles — How the Alleged Inside Job Unfolded

by Ashis Sinha

What was meant to be a sacred offering by millions of devotees allegedly turned into a meticulously planned cash siphoning operation inside the Ram Mandir’s donation counting room. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sensational Ram Mandir donation theft case has uncovered what investigators describe as a carefully orchestrated conspiracy in which members of the cash-counting team allegedly exploited CCTV blind spots, manipulated bank deposit records and quietly pocketed devotees’ offerings for months.

According to police investigators, the alleged operation was not the work of a lone individual but a coordinated inside job involving multiple people entrusted with handling the temple’s donation cash.

Brother-in-Law Planted Inside the Counting Team

Investigators claim the conspiracy began when Anukalp Mishra, an employee deployed through a bank outsourcing agency responsible for counting donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, allegedly ensured that his own brother-in-law Lavkush Mishra was inducted into the same cash-counting team.

Police believe this gave the alleged gang direct access to lakhs of rupees in cash collected daily from temple donation boxes.

How the Alleged Theft Was Carried Out

According to the SIT, the accused allegedly executed the theft in several carefully planned steps:

• While counting bundles of cash, members of the team allegedly created temporary obstructions in front of the main CCTV cameras, blocking the surveillance view.
• During those crucial moments, ₹500 notes were allegedly slipped out from the bundles and hidden inside their clothes.
• The cash counting then continued normally, making the missing notes difficult to detect immediately.
• Investigators believe this method was repeated multiple times over an extended period without raising suspicion.

Police say the operation relied more on timing and concealment than force, making it one of the most sophisticated alleged thefts from a religious institution in recent years.

The Voucher Trick That Allegedly Hid the Missing Money

The alleged conspiracy did not end inside the counting room.

Investigators say the accused also manipulated the banking process while preparing vouchers for depositing temple donations. According to police, additional bundles of currency were temporarily included during documentation to match accounting records. Before the cash reached the bank, those extra bundles were allegedly removed, allowing the paperwork to appear correct while the actual deposit amount was reduced.

Officials believe this dual strategy—physically removing notes and manipulating deposit documentation—enabled the alleged embezzlement to continue undetected for months.

Hidden Cameras Exposed the Alleged Scam

The alleged fraud began to unravel in the last week of May 2026, when officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust noticed recurring shortfalls in donation deposits.

Suspecting foul play, the Trust reportedly installed covert surveillance cameras in addition to the existing CCTV network.

According to investigators, the hidden cameras captured suspicious activities inside the counting room, prompting the Trust to lodge a formal complaint. An FIR was subsequently registered, and the SIT launched a full-scale investigation that resulted in the arrest of eight accused.

A ₹14,500 Salary, Yet Luxury Assets Under Scanner

The investigation has also focused on the lifestyle of alleged mastermind Anukalp Mishra.

Police say Anukalp officially earned around ₹14,500 per month, but investigators are examining assets allegedly linked to him that include:

• A house reportedly valued between ₹40 lakh and ₹65 lakh in Ayodhya’s Kaushalpuri locality.
• A newly built farmhouse in his native village of Basava in Milkipur.
• Plans to purchase a Mahindra Scorpio SUV.

Investigators are examining whether these assets are disproportionate to his known income and whether any were financed using allegedly misappropriated donation money. His family has denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless.

Cash, Jewellery and Property Documents Recovered

As the investigation intensified, Ayodhya Police carried out raids at the residences of all eight accused.

During the searches, police reportedly recovered substantial amounts of cash, jewellery and property documents from multiple locations, including the residence of accused Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu. Investigators are also examining bank accounts and suspected benami assets to determine the full extent of the alleged financial trail.

Police Suspect a Wider Conspiracy

The SIT believes the alleged embezzlement was not an isolated act but a well-planned conspiracy involving several individuals working in coordination. Investigators are probing whether additional persons may have facilitated the operation or benefited from the alleged diversion of temple donations.

Police continue to examine financial transactions, digital evidence and property records to identify the complete network behind the alleged scam.

Lawyers Boycott the Accused

With the judicial custody of all eight accused ending on June 29, they are being produced before the court. In a rare move reflecting the public outrage surrounding the case, members of the Faizabad Bar Association have announced that they will not represent the accused, citing the sanctity of the Ram Mandir and the sentiments of devotees.

Supreme Court Declines Immediate CBI Hearing

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a CBI probe into the case, observing that a similar Public Interest Litigation is already pending before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

The SIT investigation is continuing, with authorities working to establish the exact amount allegedly siphoned off, trace the money trail and determine whether more people were involved. The allegations remain under investigation, and the guilt or innocence of the accused will be decided through the judicial process.