An ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple has revealed that one of the eight arrested accused, primary school teacher Avinash Shukla, reportedly spent approximately Rs 19 lakh on personal expenses including his brother's wedding, transfers to family, and gifts to a friend, alongside purchasing a car and potentially land. Police have recovered over Rs 79.80 lakh in total from all eight accused, with the largest seizure of over Rs 20 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and jewelry coming from Avinash, whose residence also yielded a "Ramrajya Kosh" donation chest with a QR code. The embezzlement came to light on June 7, leading to an FIR on June 25, and officials believe a broader inquiry is needed to uncover all assets acquired by those involved in handling temple donations.

An ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple has revealed that one of the eight arrested accused, primary school teacher Avinash Shukla, reportedly spent approximately Rs 19 lakh on personal expenses including his brother's wedding, transfers to family, and gifts to a friend, alongside purchasing a car and potentially land. Police have recovered over Rs 79.80 lakh in total from all eight accused, with the largest seizure of over Rs 20 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and jewelry coming from Avinash, whose residence also yielded a "Ramrajya Kosh" donation chest with a QR code. The embezzlement came to light on June 7, leading to an FIR on June 25, and officials believe a broader inquiry is needed to uncover all assets acquired by those involved in handling temple donations.

An ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple has revealed that one of the eight arrested accused, primary school teacher Avinash Shukla, reportedly spent approximately Rs 19 lakh on personal expenses including his brother's wedding, transfers to family, and gifts to a friend, alongside purchasing a car and potentially land. Police have recovered over Rs 79.80 lakh in total from all eight accused, with the largest seizure of over Rs 20 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and jewelry coming from Avinash, whose residence also yielded a "Ramrajya Kosh" donation chest with a QR code. The embezzlement came to light on June 7, leading to an FIR on June 25, and officials believe a broader inquiry is needed to uncover all assets acquired by those involved in handling temple donations.

As the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple continues, police sources on Monday claimed that one of the accused, Avinash Shukla, spent around Rs 19 lakh on his friends and family members.

Avinash, a primary school teacher, was assigned the task of cash reconciliation during donation-counting sessions at the temple. He is among the eight people arrested by the Ayodhya Police in connection with the alleged donation theft.

During custodial interrogation, Avinash reportedly told investigators that he spent around Rs 6 lakh on the wedding celebrations of one of his brothers and transferred Rs 5 lakh to another brother.

Police also found that he transferred nearly Rs 2.5 lakh to a friend and gifted the same person an expensive mobile phone. Investigators alleged that he also distributed smaller sums of money to several other individuals.

The probe has further led to the recovery of a car worth around Rs 3.5 lakh, which Avinash had recently purchased. Officials are also examining a parcel of land bought in 2024 in the name of his brother, Abhishek Shukla, and scrutinising bank accounts that allegedly received funds transferred by Avinash.

According to police, the investigation has so far led to the recovery of Rs 79.80 lakh from the eight arrested accused, with the largest seizure made from Avinash. More than Rs 20 lakh in cash, foreign currency and jewellery were recovered from premises linked to him.

Investigators also recovered a donation chest bearing the inscription "Ramrajya Kosh" and fitted with a QR code for digital payments from Avinash's residence.

Police said Avinash had been residing at a yoga centre in Ayodhya for several years.

Officials believe a wider investigation is necessary to trace the movable and immovable assets allegedly acquired by those involved in counting cash donations and valuable offerings at the temple.

The alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations came to light on June 7. Based on the preliminary findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, an FIR was registered on June 25. The investigation remains ongoing.