PRATAPGARH: The family of Avinash Shukla, one of the eight people arrested in connection with the alleged theft of offerings from the Ram temple in Ayodhya, has said he should be “punished if found guilty, but must get justice if he is innocent”.Avinash, a resident of Babupur Nariyawan village under Maheshganj police station limits in Pratapgarh district, was arrested in the case.Officials said Avinash was involved in the cash reconciliation process conducted after each counting round and is believed to have actively participated in the alleged misappropriation of Ram temple donations, news agency PTI reported.Sources said police questioned Avinash inside the district jail on Tuesday after obtaining court permission.Avinash’s father, Ram Sajeevan Shukla, said his son had been living in Ayodhya with his elder brother Abhishek for about a year. Abhishek has been working as a primary school teacher in Ayodhya since 2021.“The family had hoped that both brothers would improve our financial condition, but everything has changed now,” he said.An emotional Ram Sajeevan Shukla said villagers and relatives were questioning the family about the case. “The court will decide the matter. Lord Ram will judge everyone’s deeds,” he said.Avinash’s mother, Mithlesh, said the family had raised their children with values of honesty. “If he has committed any mistake, he should be punished. If he is innocent, he should get justice,” she said.The family said it respects the law and wants a fair and impartial probe.The family has five sons, three of whom are engaged in farming in the village.They own around 14 bighas of agricultural land. While the sons live in a pucca house, the elderly parents continue to live in a kutcha house.The controversy erupted on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, a charge denied by the temple trust.The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a SIT on June 13 to probe the allegations.Following submission of the preliminary SIT report on June 23, an FIR was registered on June 25 and eight accused, Avinash, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, were arrested.(With agency inputs)
