FIR Registered Against Eight in Ram Temple Donation Case
An FIR was registered on Thursday against eight individuals on charges of embezzlement, fraud, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust related to missing donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The move comes two days after a special investigation team (SIT) submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government, probing irregularities in the collection and handling of donations.
Accused Named in the FIR
Sources confirmed that the FIR does not name senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust members Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. Instead, the accused include Lavkush Mishra and Anukalp Mishra, who were involved in counting cash and valuables received as donations. Other accused are Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Rama Shankar Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava.
Complaint and Legal Provisions
The FIR was lodged based on a complaint by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. According to police, the case invokes Sections 306 (theft), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 317 (dishonestly receiving stolen property), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), among other penal provisions.
Political and Social Reactions
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh submitted documents to the SIT on Thursday, alleging on X that the trust committed a scam worth crores of rupees through land purchases. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanded an FIR and a day-to-day hearing. The Vishwa Sindhi Seva Sangam (VSSS), a Mumbai-based Sindhi organization, sought clarification on the use of 200 silver bricks, each weighing one kilogram, donated for the temple.
