Ayodhya court extends custody of eight temple donation theft suspects till Sept 21

The Anti‑Corruption Court, presided over by Special Judge Rajat Verma, ordered that the eight accused remain in judicial custody for another 14 days, pushing the deadline to 21 September 2026. The extension was announced by the accused’s counsel, advocate Kul Shekhar Singh, who told PTI the order had been passed on Friday.

Accused and charges

The eight individuals named in the case are Avinash Shukla, Ankalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Rama Shankar (alias Tinnu). They were arrested after a First Information Report was lodged on 25 June 2026 at the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station, accusing them of theft, embezzlement and a conspiracy to misappropriate cash donations made by devotees.

Investigation findings

Police recovered nearly ₹80 lakh in cash from seven of the accused during raids conducted in late June. The recovered money was seized from the suspects’ possession, strengthening the prosecution’s case of diversion of temple offerings.

Legal proceedings

All eight suspects were placed in judicial custody following their arrests on 26 June 2026. The court’s recent order does not alter their status but merely extends the period they will remain detained while the investigation continues.

Background of the case

The controversy centres on alleged misappropriation of cash donations collected at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra temple in Ayodhya. A Special Investigation Team, set up by the Uttar Pradesh government, uncovered evidence that cash was being diverted during counting before being deposited into the Trust’s bank accounts. The case has drawn scrutiny from the Supreme Court, which has ordered periodic status reports from the SIT.

Public response

Political parties and civil society groups have called for a transparent, court‑monitored probe. The Trust has responded by accepting resignations of senior officials and initiating a new CEO selection process, though these administrative steps are separate from the criminal investigation.

• Custody extended to 21 Sept 2026 by Special Judge Rajat Verma.
• Advocate Kul Shekhar Singh confirmed the extension.
• Eight accused named; FIR filed on 25 June 2026.
• Nearly ₹80 lakh recovered from suspects.
• Investigation led by Uttar Pradesh SIT.