LUCKNOW: Two days after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its preliminary report to chief minister Yogi Adityanath on alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, an FIR has been registered against eight persons, including the in-charge of cash counting at the temple’s pilgrim facilitation centre.Subhash Srivastava, one of the accused named in the FIR, was in charge of cash counting after donations collected from devotees in 40 boxes reached the centre. Investigators are examining his alleged role, along with seven others, in the suspected diversion of temple funds.The FIR was lodged by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to theft by an employee, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.Those named in the FIR are Tinnu Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Karunesh Pandey and Ramshankar Mishra. Except Yadav, who was in a supervisory role, all were involved in cash-counting work at the temple.According to the complaint, the accused allegedly embezzled donations offered by devotees and misappropriated trust funds as part of a criminal conspiracy. The case centres on the alleged diversion of money collected from donation boxes installed within the temple premises.The SIT was constituted after the temple trust formally sought a probe following allegations of financial irregularities that surfaced on June 13. Headed by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, the panel also includes Lucknow range IG 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. The panel was tasked with identifying procedural lapses and assessing whether a wider conspiracy was involved.The alleged irregularities first came to light after claims of misappropriation surfaced in the public domain, prompting the trust to initiate an internal inquiry before seeking a govt-led investigation. While routine audits reportedly did not flag discrepancies, the trust sought an SIT probe to establish facts and dispel speculation.With the FIR now registered, the case has entered the criminal investigation phase. Police are expected to question the accused, scrutinise financial records, trace the alleged siphoned funds and identify any additional persons involved. Officials indicated that further arrests and additional charges could follow if new evidence emerges.
