Court grants 39-hour police remand of two accused in Ram temple donation 'theft' case

Ayodhya (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A special anti-corruption court on Friday granted a 39-hour police remand of the two remaining key accused in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case, allowing investigators to question them and recover stolen cash, valuables and other evidence, officials said. The Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) allowed the remand of the prime accused, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, and his nephew Manish Yadav for 39 hours, though the police had sought their custody for seven days, the officials said. According to police sources, investigators had questioned the duo in jail on Thursday before moving the remand application after obtaining fresh leads during the probe. Tinnu, who was considered close to former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, allegedly supervised the temple's donation boxes, while Manish was involved in counting the offerings. The police had earlier recovered Rs 1 lakh from Tinnu's residence and Rs 2 lakh from Manish's house. The officials said that during the remand, investigators are expected to take the two accused to various locations to question them about the alleged theft, trace additional cash and valuables, and verify properties allegedly purchased using the siphoned-off money. Before seeking the custody of Tinnu and Manish, the police had interrogated six other accused on custodial remand in connection with the case. Investigators have also submitted before the court cash, jewellery and documents related to properties recovered earlier this week at the instance of former bank employees Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Mishra, who were questioned during police custody. In a related development, sources said Gopal Rao, who was overseeing the Ram temple construction work, has left Ayodhya after being relieved of his responsibilities following the meeting of the temple construction committee on July 6. The sources said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has reassigned him, though his new place of posting was not immediately known. The alleged theft of donations offered at the Ram temple surfaced in the first week of June and has so far led to the arrest of eight persons and the resignation of two senior functionaries from the Trust. Opposition parties have said they will raise the Ram temple alleged donation embezzlement issue during the Monsoon session of Parliament which is scheduled to start on July 20. PTI COR KIS KSS KSS