A big revelation came to light during the SIT investigation in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case. The accused claimed that the cash was hidden in the washroom to avoid CCTV. Now the investigation into embezzlement of crores and alleged collusion is intensifying.
Ayodhya/Lucknow: The alleged donation scam worth crores of rupees in the Ram Temple of Ayodhya, the country’s safest and largest center of faith, has shocked the entire country. One of the main accused, who was caught by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government, has made such a horrifying and vicious revelation during interrogation, which has shocked the security agencies and the temple trust. The method of this conspiracy hatched under the guise of faith is like the script of a suspense-thriller film. According to police sources, the stolen cash was not directly taken out of the temple premises but was first hidden in the washroom for some time. After this, the money was taken out at the right opportunity so that no one gets suspicious and it can also be avoided from the sight of CCTV cameras.
‘Blind spot’ of cameras and secret of washroom: How to avoid CCTV?
During two hours of rigorous interrogation by the SIT, the arrested accused Avinash Shukla confessed to the story of the crime, which no one had imagined. Avinash told that the accused knew the exact location of the high-tech surveillance (CCTV) cameras installed in every corner of the temple complex. To carry out the theft they used to create a well-planned maze. When the offerings from the donation boxes were being counted, a member of the gang would cleverly pass through the bundles of notes. At the same time, the rest of the gang members surrounded him from all sides in such a way that the CCTV cameras could not reach him. After this, instead of taking the stolen money out immediately, it was hidden for some time in the washroom of the premises itself. As soon as the opportunity arose, the cash was sent out of the temple premises by dodging the security check.
Who had the key to the counting room?
The biggest suspense in this game is about the fact that in a place where even Parinda could not kill, how did such a big theft continue without any hindrance for so long? The investigators have got an important clue – the arrested accused Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav had a key of the donation counting room. Whereas as per the rules, the second key should have been with the bank employees involved in the counting process. A team of 14 people from a private agency authorized by the State Bank of India (SBI) handled the count, which included 11 bank employees and 3 trust members. SIT is now investigating in depth whether any insider was involved in giving this key to Ramashankar? Were bank employees complicit in this mega scam?
The influence of the former trustee and the diplomatic earthquake of two big resignations
Avinash Shukla’s statements have also brought big faces of the temple administration under the scanner. Shukla claimed that an official named Mishra played a very important role in the process of counting donations. Due to being very close to the top officials of the Trust, no one ever doubted the accused nor was any investigation conducted against them. Crores of rupees were crossed under the guise of this influence. The heat of this controversy was so high that last week Mishra and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai had to resign from their posts. Although, no official statement regarding any direct involvement of both has been revealed yet, but the SIT has interrogated both of them rigorously.
Eight arrests, but the biggest question still remains
So far eight people have been arrested in this case. The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted SIT on June 13 in view of the seriousness of the case. Investigating agencies are trying to find out if the alleged embezzlement took place, how it went on without being detected for so long and whether other people were also involved in it. At present, the investigation is ongoing and no accused has been convicted by the court yet. In the coming days, SIT investigation and forensic and financial analysis will make it clear what is the entire truth behind the alleged embezzlement of donations.
Empire through black money: Where to invest crores of rupees?
SIT is now investigating the last mile of this scam i.e. ‘money trail’. It has also become clear during interrogation that the crores of rupees stolen from Aastha’s safe were used by the accused to build their luxuries and empire. With this stolen money, huge land deals were made and luxurious houses were purchased. The SIT, formed on June 13, has so far sent 8 people behind bars. But the biggest unanswered question is still floating in the air – are the 8 arrests just the tail of this big whale? The suspense of how many more white collar faces are involved in this syndicate is going to deepen in the coming days.