Ayodhya investigators are examining whether gold ornaments allegedly stolen from the Ram temple were melted and recast as gold biscuits to destroy identifying marks, widening a donation theft probe that has already triggered fresh scrutiny of the shrine’s cash-counting system, inventory controls and trust administration.
The Special Investigation Team is seeking detailed records of jewellery, precious stones, gold, silver and other offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, along with documents linked to transactions with the state-owned Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited. The line of inquiry is aimed at establishing whether donated ornaments were replaced, removed from the temple’s inventory or converted into bullion that would be harder to trace.
The probe has moved beyond the handling of cash donations to the management of valuables offered by devotees. Investigators are checking stock registers, vault access, CCTV availability, audit trails and the process through which ornaments and precious metals were recorded, stored and, where applicable, sent for testing or formal processing. The Trust had earlier sent about 944 kg of silver for testing, placing the handling of high-value offerings at the centre of the investigation.
The case has gathered pace after allegations that donations worth between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore were misappropriated from the temple. Former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey had raised the charge on June 7, prompting political pressure and the registration of a criminal case. The Uttar Pradesh government later formed a three-member SIT to examine the allegations and trace the movement of cash and valuables.
Investigators have already identified a cash trail exceeding ₹77 lakh, with recoveries reportedly including cash, gold, silver, foreign currency and a donation box linked to a QR code. Avinash Shukla has emerged as a key accused in the probe, with recoveries linked to him estimated at more than ₹20 lakh. Anukalp Mishra has also come under scrutiny after images surfaced allegedly placing him inside the temple’s cash-counting facility with Shukla.
The SIT is also examining whether the theft was enabled by weaknesses in surveillance and internal control. CCTV footage from the counting area was allegedly retained for only 45 days, creating a gap that may have prevented investigators from reconstructing the full period of suspected theft. The accused are believed to have studied camera positions, staff movements and access routes before exploiting the system.
Bank deposit patterns have become a significant part of the investigation. Donations deposited into the Trust’s bank accounts were said to average ₹16 lakh to ₹18 lakh a day before the case surfaced, rising to ₹24 lakh to ₹26 lakh after tighter scrutiny began. Investigators are treating the difference as one indicator that ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh may have been diverted daily, though the final figure will depend on the re-audit and forensic examination of records.
The SIT has ordered a five-year re-audit of the Trust’s accounts, covering donation receipts, construction expenditure, inventories of jewellery and precious metals, and the handling of offerings made by devotees. The exercise is expected to test whether discrepancies were isolated incidents or part of a wider pattern involving cash, ornaments and administrative decisions.
The Trust is expected to hold an emergency meeting on July 6 in Ayodhya to discuss the SIT’s preliminary findings and possible administrative changes. The agenda includes the possible appointment of a chief executive officer to manage temple operations more professionally. The meeting is also expected to examine the roles of senior office-bearers after trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra came under pressure over the controversy.
Anil Mishra’s role has drawn particular attention after investigators began looking into recruitment at the temple. At least 125 employees were allegedly hired on his recommendation, including some relatives. The SIT is checking whether appointments, access privileges and internal postings created conditions that allowed irregularities in the counting and handling of donations.
