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74,000-page chargesheet puts Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation case under legal spotlight. (Img: Pinterest)
Lucknow: The investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir reached a major legal milestone on Wednesday with Uttar Pradesh police filing a massive chargesheet against eight accused. The voluminous document, running into around 74,000 pages, reportedly contains CCTV footage analysis, financial trails, recovery details, witness statements and other documentary evidence gathered during the probe.
The case has drawn nationwide attention because it involves alleged irregularities in the handling of offerings made by devotees at one of India’s most significant religious sites. Investigators have examined surveillance footage, banking records, digital evidence and operational procedures to establish the alleged sequence of events.
Ayodhya Police submitted the chargesheet before the court after completing the investigation into allegations related to unauthorised removal of cash offerings from the temple donation system.
The chargesheet was reportedly presented in multiple boxes due to its size and includes material collected during months of investigation. The evidence package includes CCTV footage, statements of witnesses, recovery documents, financial records, mobile data analysis and other electronic evidence.
The eight accused named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava and Ramshankar Mishra.
Police have alleged that the investigation uncovered a pattern involving access control failures, alleged misuse of responsibilities and irregularities linked to the handling of donation collections.
One of the biggest elements of the investigation is the analysis of CCTV footage from the temple premises. According to investigation findings presented before the Supreme Court, CCTV analysis identified 105 instances of alleged unauthorised removal or concealment of currency from the donation counting area.
Investigators also examined digital records, financial documents and other evidence to reconstruct the alleged transactions. The surveillance trail became a crucial part of the probe as authorities attempted to establish the alleged modus operandi and identify the role of individuals involved.
The investigation also examined whether standard operating procedures related to donation handling, security checks and monitoring systems were properly followed.
Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav emerged as one of the key accused in the case. According to police allegations, Tinnu Yadav had access to donation box keys despite questions being raised over his official authorisation.
Investigators examined allegations that money was collected from devotees in the name of facilitating darshan and that financial transactions connected with these activities were part of the probe.
The investigation also looked into his alleged connections, income sources and financial activities, including vehicle-related business transactions.
Police have included documents and evidence related to these allegations in the chargesheet, while the final determination of guilt will depend on the judicial process.
The investigation has focused heavily on tracing the alleged financial trail. Police have claimed that cash was recovered during searches linked to some accused persons. Investigators examined bank transactions, property-related documents, account details and other financial records to understand the movement of suspected funds.
The chargesheet reportedly contains details of recoveries and documentary evidence collected during searches conducted as part of the investigation. The financial probe was carried out alongside the examination of CCTV footage and witness statements to create a comprehensive case record.
The case also brought attention to the administrative and security mechanisms used for managing temple offerings. Investigators examined donation counting procedures, access permissions, CCTV monitoring systems and internal security protocols.
The probe also reviewed allegations related to handling of valuable donations and other offerings. According to the investigation report submitted before the court, certain claims related to silver donations and specific valuable items were examined, with no discrepancies found in those categories.
With the chargesheet now filed, the case will move into the judicial scrutiny phase. The court will examine the evidence submitted by investigators, including digital records, CCTV footage, financial documents and statements recorded during the investigation.
The filing of a chargesheet does not establish guilt. The accused will have the opportunity to present their defence during court proceedings, and the final outcome will depend on the evidence and legal arguments presented before the court.
