Judicial Custody Extended for Eight Accused in Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Case

In a significant development, a special court in Ayodhya has extended the judicial custody of eight individuals accused in the Ram Temple donation theft case. The court's decision, made on July 27, allows for an additional 14 days of custody as the investigation continues. The accused, who have already faced police interrogation, are linked to the alleged embezzlement of funds donated by devotees at the temple. This case has garnered considerable attention, highlighting issues of trust and accountability within religious institutions. Read on for more details about the proceedings and the individuals involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 17:43 IST

Ayodhya Court Decision on Donation Theft Case

On July 27, a local special court in Ayodhya has extended the judicial custody of all eight individuals implicated in the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple for an additional 14 days. This information was provided by the defense attorney.

Defense lawyer Kul Shekhar Singh stated that Special Judge Rajat Verma (Anti-Corruption) ordered the extension of custody until August 10 after the accused were presented virtually from the district jail.

The accused include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu. They have already been interrogated during police custody as part of the ongoing investigation. This case pertains to the alleged embezzlement of donations made by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.