The investigation into a donation theft at the Ayodhya temple is intensifying, with an estimated loss of ₹3 crore compared to the ₹79 lakh recovered. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining security lapses, including employee recruitment and inadequate protocols, while police seek extended custody of arrested individuals to recover stolen assets.

The investigation into a donation theft at the Ayodhya temple is intensifying, with an estimated loss of ₹3 crore compared to the ₹79 lakh recovered. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining security lapses, including employee recruitment and inadequate protocols, while police seek extended custody of arrested individuals to recover stolen assets.

The investigation into a donation theft at the Ayodhya temple is intensifying, with an estimated loss of ₹3 crore compared to the ₹79 lakh recovered. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining security lapses, including employee recruitment and inadequate protocols, while police seek extended custody of arrested individuals to recover stolen assets.

While police records currently show a recovery of ₹79 lakh, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri estimates the total loss at approximately ₹3 crore. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now investigating this discrepancy and the basis for the  ₹3 crore figure. 

The investigating agencies are trying to determine whether the suspicion of ₹3 crore was based on any audit report, cash matching, CCTV footage, or other documents. A financial re-examination of the entire case is currently underway. 

Also, according to the SIT investigation, Manish Kumar Yadav, one of the eight accused by the UP police in connection with the theft case, was appointed in April 2026. Just days after his appointment, the CCTV footage revealed him withdrawing cash donations. 

Police claim that his recruitment was based on the recommendation of his uncle, Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu Yadav, former driver of Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. 

Police seek 7-day remand of two accused 

Seeking to expand their investigation, the Ayodhya police have moved a local court for a seven-day remand of the accused duo, Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav. In their plea, investigators emphasised that custodial interrogation is crucial to tracing the stolen assets and uncovering the full extent of the theft.

Two more suspects were arrested in connection with the case on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Ramashankar Mishra and retired bank employee Subhash Chandra Srivastava, who previously supervised the temple's cash-counting operations.

So far, police have interrogated four other accused, Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey, during their police custody remand. 

On Monday, the Ayodhya court had extended the judicial custody of all eight accused in the donation theft case by 14 days. 

The preliminary report of the SIT points to lapses and says there was no frisking at entry and exit, poor control over personal belongings, and cash from multiple donation boxes counted together were among the reasons that made the crime possible. 

The report notes that approximately ₹78.94 lakh was recovered from certain employees prior to the official investigation. An additional ₹2.25 lakh was allegedly recovered from the bathroom attached to the counting room on June 4, 2026.

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