Ram temple donation case: ADA issues final notice over accused Lavkush Mishra's wife's house

Ayodhya (UP), Jul 14 (PTI) The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) on Tuesday issued a final notice to Ram temple donation embezzlement accused Lavkush Mishra's wife over the alleged unauthorised construction of a house here, warning that the building could be sealed if she failed to submit the required documents by July 15. According to ADA officials, the final notice has been pasted on the two-storey house under construction at Banvirpur in the Sahadatganj area, after no response was received to an earlier notice issued on July 3. The plot is registered in the name of Supriya Mishra, wife of Lavkush Mishra, who is currently in jail in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations. The ADA has directed Supriya Mishra to appear before the authority with the approved building plan and other relevant documents by Wednesday. Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Mahendra Kumar Singh said the notice was issued under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973. "As no documents were submitted in response to the earlier notice, a final opportunity has been given. The secretary of the authority will hear the matter on July 15. If no satisfactory reply or valid documents are produced, further action, including sealing of the building under construction, will be initiated," Singh said. The development comes amid an ongoing probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations offered at the Ram temple. According to investigators, Lavkush Mishra was among the eight people associated with the temple's donation-counting process who were arrested following an FIR lodged on June 25 on the basis of a preliminary report of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government. Police have said an amount Rs 14.25 lakh was recovered from Lavkush Mishra during the investigation. The highest cash recovery in the case, Rs 20.39 lakh, was made from co-accused Avinash Shukla, who was allegedly involved in counting donations at the temple. The investigators have also seized a donation box labelled "Ramrajya Kosh", along with foreign currency, gold and silver, during searches linked to the case. The alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations came to light on June 7 and the investigation is continuing. PTI COR KIS RC