Temple Donation Theft Chargesheet
Police File Massive Chargesheet Against Eight Over Ram Temple Donation Theft
Anonymous
Police have filed a roughly 74,000-page chargesheet against eight people accused of stealing or embezzling cash and offerings from the Ram Janmabhoomi temple’s donation-counting room. Investigators cite CCTV footage, phone messages, witness statements and cash recoveries; reports describe more than 200 CCTV references that include alleged assistance, while another account reports 105 instances of theft. Police say about Rs 79.85 lakh was recovered from seven accused, and the chargesheet names 133 witnesses, including former trust officials. The allegations against counting-room staffer Subhash Srivastava are disputed: reporting on a 2021 appointment letter says it did not specify his position, while Srivastava has said his role was limited to caretaking and named other trust employees and the bank. The chargesheet proceeds against all eight, though authorities removed some alleged offenses and did not charge Srivastava with possession of stolen goods.
Key Points
1
Police say the theft came to light on June 4, when Rs 2.25 lakh was found hidden in a counting-room bathroom; staff had reportedly begun checking people at the gate after becoming suspicious of colleagues.
2
The chargesheet gives individual CCTV tallies: police allege Avinash Shukla removed cash 85 times, while Karunesh Pandey allegedly helped others 68 times. Investigators also cite messages about hiding, exchanging and moving bundles of cash.
3
The chargesheet was presented in five iron boxes and included 101 case-diary papers. Separately, lawyers sought a police inquiry into the alleged roles of former trust office-bearers Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao; the article reports that Rai had since resigned as general secretary.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
12
Articles
10
Reach
22
A
AnonymousAuthor
