Ram Temple ‘donation theft’ case: Who are the 8 accused named in FIR? All arrested | Lucknow News

AYODHYA: Eight people named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were arrested on Friday, senior officials said. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, following recommendations made in the preliminary report of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the alleged embezzlement.Senior officials said all eight accused named in the FIR have been arrested and are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.All those named in the FIR were part of the team responsible for counting cash and valuables received as temple donations. “All the accused were in Ayodhya itself and were arrested late Thursday night. Further questioning is underway. Police are preparing to present them before a magistrate,” a senior official told PTI. The case has been registered under sections 306 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 317 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, among other provisions. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly embezzled donations offered by devotees and misappropriated trust funds as part of a criminal conspiracy. The case pertains to the alleged diversion of money collected from donation boxes installed across the temple premises.The Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust sought a government probe into allegations of financial irregularities that surfaced on June 13. Headed by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, the panel also comprises Lucknow range inspector general Kiran S and finance department special secretary Neelratan Kumar.Sources said the SIT examined records related to donation collection, counting, handling, storage and supervision, and questioned temple staff and officials associated with the process. List of accused named in the FIR

Except for Tinnu Yadav, who held a supervisory role, all the accused were engaged in counting cash and valuables received as donations at the Ram Temple.