All eight accused in the Ram temple theft case, including the prime accused Tinnu Yadav, were sent to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday by a local court in Uttar Pradesh. The court rejected the police's request for further remand, citing lack of evidence for custodial interrogation.
Accused produced before court
The eight accused were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Ayodhya on Tuesday afternoon. The police had sought a 7-day extension of their remand, claiming they needed to recover stolen valuables and uncover the larger conspiracy. However, the court ruled that the police had failed to present sufficient grounds for continued custody.
According to sources, the accused were arrested last week in connection with the theft of gold and silver ornaments from the Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex. The stolen items, including a gold crown and silver bells, were reportedly worth over Rs 50 lakh. Police have recovered some of the stolen property from the accused.
Tinnu Yadav's role under scrutiny
Tinnu Yadav, a local criminal with a prior record, is believed to be the mastermind behind the theft. Police alleged that he planned the heist along with his associates, who included temple staff and local residents. However, defense lawyers argued that the police had no concrete evidence against their clients and that the case was based on circumstantial evidence.
"The police have not produced any eyewitness or forensic evidence linking my client to the crime," said advocate Ramesh Pandey, representing Tinnu Yadav. "The court rightly rejected the remand plea."
Security concerns at temple
The theft has raised serious questions about security at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, which is one of the holiest sites for Hindus. The temple administration has been criticized for lax security measures, including inadequate CCTV coverage and lack of proper alarm systems. Officials have promised to upgrade security in the wake of the incident.
The case is now set to proceed with the accused in judicial custody. The next hearing is scheduled for July 13, when the court will consider the charge sheet and decide on further proceedings.
