Lucknow: The investigation into the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case has now moved towards likely bulldozer action against one of the accused, as authorities examine properties allegedly acquired using the stolen funds.
The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) issued a notice Thursday regarding an under-construction building registered in the name of the wife of accused Lavkush Mishra. The authority has sought a reply from the family within a week and warned them that if no satisfactory response is received, the structure will be demolished.
Lavkush Mishra is among the eight people arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. Police had earlier recovered Rs 14.25 lakh in cash from his residence during raids conducted as part of the investigation. He was considered close to Ram temple trust functionary Anil Mishra.
According to sources in the Ayodhya Police, Mishra was constructing a luxurious multi-storey house on a 1,000 sq ft plot in the Shahadatganj area. The property, purchased in October 2025 in the name of his wife Supriya Mishra, was reportedly valued at around Rs 25 lakh. The total investment was estimated to be around Rs 1.5 crore. Mishra’s salary, meanwhile, was reportedly around Rs 20,000 per month.
The building was nearing completion before construction work came to a halt following Mishra’s arrest. According to police sources, Mishra had spent nearly Rs 80-90 lakh on the three-storey structure, which was designed with large kitchens, multiple bedrooms, space for a lift, and provisions for an additional floor.
Investigators are examining whether the property was financed through money allegedly stolen from temple donations.
Police have recovered more than Rs 80.92 lakh in Indian currency and USD 1,121 from the eight accused till now in coordinated raids, besides gold and silver ornaments allegedly donated by devotees at the Ram Temple.
According to the police, Rs 2 lakh cash had been recovered from Manish Yadav, Rs 18.07 lakh from Karunesh Pandey, Rs 14.25 lakh from Lavkush Mishra, Rs 16.82 lakh from Anukalp Mishra, Rs 7.32 lakh from Ramashankar, Rs 20.39 lakh from Avinash Shukla and Rs 1 lakh from Tinnu Yadav.
Investigators believe Lavkush Mishra and his relative Anukalp Mishra played the most significant role in the alleged theft and made at least half a dozen properties around Ayodhya district.
Maximum theft during Kumbh
According to sources in the SIT, most of the alleged theft was carried out during the 2025 Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, when the Ram Temple saw a sharp increase in donations. Police suspect an organised network exploited the surge in offerings between January 13 and February 26, 2025. The probe has also indicated possible involvement of bank employees and revealed a money trail that investigators are currently examining.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, investigators uncovered another suspected fundraising operation during searches. A donation box labelled ‘Ram Rajya Kosh’ was found at the Shyam Sadhanaly Yog Kendra in Ayodhya, where one accused, Avinash Shukla, was allegedly staying.
Police suspect Shukla had formed an organisation called ‘Ram Rajya Prashasan’ and installed donation boxes carrying QR codes for digital payments at several locations across Ayodhya. Most of these boxes were reportedly removed after the FIR was registered, although one remained at the yoga centre.
Employees at the centre told investigators that Shukla had placed the donation box there in early June and kept it locked at all times. On Thursday, police brought Shukla to the premises and recovered cash from the box. Staff members also claimed they had asked Shukla to vacate the premises soon after allegations of donation theft surfaced.
Police have also extended the investigation beyond Ayodhya. Citing senior officers, police sources said a raid was conducted on 30 June at Shukla’s ancestral home in Pratapgarh, where investigators found that he was constructing a new house adjacent to his parents’ residence. Authorities are examining whether the property is linked to the alleged proceeds of the donation theft.
A senior UP government official in Ayodhya told ThePrint that they are also tracing the properties of another accused, Tinnu Yadav, who is considered a close aide of Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. Sources in the government said investigators are examining assets allegedly linked to him as part of the ongoing probe.
Meanwhile, the SIT, which has already questioned and investigated Champat Rai in connection with the case, is also likely to examine the role of Ram Temple Trust trustee Dr Anil Mishra as the investigation widens, according to sources in the team.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)