India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation theft has taken a fresh turn after reports claimed that some of the accused tried to erase digital evidence before their arrest. According to News18, several accused deleted WhatsApp chats and other data from their mobile phones, while others allegedly formatted their devices completely as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) intensified its probe.
The development comes as the eight accused are set to be produced before a court in Ayodhya on Monday after their three-day judicial custody ends. Police are expected to seek custodial remand to question them further in the alleged embezzlement of devotees’ donations.
Eight accused in the Ram Temple donation theft case allegedly attempted to erase digital evidence from phones before their court production, prompting police raids and anticipation of a custody remand request.
Accused allegedly erased digital trail
According to News18, investigators found that several accused had deleted WhatsApp conversations and other files from their phones. Some allegedly went a step further by formatting their devices in an apparent attempt to destroy digital evidence.
The seized phones are expected to be sent for forensic examination to determine whether the deleted data can be recovered. Investigators believe the digital trail could help establish communication between the accused and reveal how the alleged theft was carried out.
Police raid homes of all eight accused
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday carried out simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight accused.
According to PTI, police teams accompanied by local magistrates searched the homes of Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Ramashankar Yadav and the other accused as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials searched the premises for cash, valuables, documents and other material that could be linked to the alleged misappropriation of Ram Temple donations.
Police likely to seek custodial remand
The searches came two days after an Ayodhya court remanded all eight accused to judicial custody till June 29.
The accused will be produced before the court again on Monday. Police are expected to seek custodial remand to question them about the alleged diversion of donations and recover additional evidence.
Investigators are also examining financial records, electronic devices and CCTV footage as they piece together the sequence of events.
Eight arrested after SIT report
The eight accused were arrested on June 26 after a preliminary report submitted by the SIT led to the registration of an FIR.
Those arrested are Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu.
According to the FIR, all eight were associated with counting cash and valuables donated by devotees at the Ram Temple.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to theft by a servant, criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act have also been invoked.
Following the arrests, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced that its general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra had resigned from their posts.
The Trust said a fair and transparent inquiry would be conducted into the allegations related to Ram Temple donations.
