Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donation Theft: The three accused arrested in connection with the Ram Mandir donation theft case have made several startling revelations during their police custody remand.
According to police officials, the accused-Karunesh Pandey, Lavkush Tiwari, and Anukalp Mishra-disclosed during interrogation that the theft was initiated by an individual named Avinash Shukla. Seeing him, Karunesh also joined in. Eventually, the others, including Anukalp, formed an organized group to steal as much cash as possible from the daily offerings.
Sources stated that the thefts began with small amounts of ₹2,000 each. As their confidence grew, the daily stolen amounts escalated from ₹15,000–₹20,000 to as much as ₹3 lakh per day.
Police officials revealed that while in lock-up during the remand, the accused would constantly cry and remained sleepless. Even if they managed to doze off briefly, they would wake up with a start and begin weeping again.
No Frisking Facilitated the Crime
The operation, which started with two individuals, gradually expanded to include their close associates. The accused told police that stealing during the counting of offerings was easy because no one was subjected to any physical frisking.
To conceal the stolen money, the accused used a trench dug for the bathroom sewer line inside the premises, which had a rack and a top cover. This kept the money hidden and safe from suspicion. Later, when the opportunity arose, the cash was moved out of the temple complex. The accused would smuggle the currency bundles out in their pockets and socks when leaving for home.
Escalation Driven by Greed
The accused confessed that they initially feared being caught, which is why they started by stealing only ₹2,000. When no one suspected or questioned them for several days, they grew fearless and began pocketing entire bundles of cash.
To avoid suspicion, they never tucked in their shirts, allowing them to easily conceal ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 in their pockets without anyone noticing or questioning them.
As their greed grew, the daily theft amount rose from ₹15,000 to between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh per person. The accused admitted to the police that it became a competition among them to see who could steal the most. Blinded by greed, they never realized they were stealing God’s offerings. Police officials noted that the accused still show no remorse for the theft and have been speaking openly about the entire racket during questioning.
Advice from Jail Inmates
The accused also shared that after being sent to jail, hardened inmates facing serious charges began giving them advice on how to escape punishment. The inmates tried to comfort them by saying that even dacoits manage to get away, whereas they had only committed theft, assuring them that they would secure bail and relief in the case.
While they initially felt some relief in jail, their anxieties grew as the case progressed. They realized the gravity of their actions after the matter became a major talking point in their ancestral villages and neighborhoods, prompting neighbors to distance themselves from their families.
