Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Court Grants 39-Hour Police Custody of Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav
A special court in Ayodhya has granted 39 hours of police custody to Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav and his nephew Manish Yadav, both accused in the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The remand marks what investigators describe as the final phase of custodial interrogation before the filing of the chargesheet in one of the most closely watched financial crime investigations linked to the temple.
The Uttar Pradesh Police had sought a seven-day police remand, arguing that custodial interrogation of the uncle-nephew duo was essential to unravel the alleged conspiracy, trace the movement of the misappropriated funds, recover additional evidence, and identify any remaining persons involved in the case. However, after hearing the submissions, the court granted a substantially shorter 39-hour remand, directing that the accused be taken from Faizabad District Jail for questioning.
Investigators have maintained that Tinnu Yadav is a central figure in the alleged donation theft case. According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), he allegedly exercised unauthorised control over the keys to the temple’s donation boxes and had access to the donation collection and counting process without formal approval. These findings have become a significant focus of the ongoing investigation into alleged procedural lapses and diversion of devotees’ offerings.
Police officials stated that the custodial interrogation of Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav is expected to focus on reconstructing the alleged conspiracy, verifying disclosures made by co-accused during earlier interrogations, examining the money trail, and identifying whether additional recoveries can be made. Authorities are also seeking to determine whether other individuals played a role in the alleged embezzlement or benefited from the diverted funds.
The case has already resulted in the arrest of eight accused, all of whom have been remanded to judicial custody by the special court. Earlier rounds of police custody were granted for other accused to facilitate questioning and evidence collection. The interrogation of Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav is expected to complete the custodial investigation before the SIT submits its final report.
The alleged embezzlement has triggered widespread public attention because it concerns donations made by devotees to one of India’s most prominent religious institutions. Investigators have earlier recovered cash, jewellery and other assets while scrutinising numerous bank accounts linked to the accused and their relatives. The SIT has also sought additional time to complete its probe, indicating that forensic examination of financial records and verification of evidence are still underway.
As the investigation enters its concluding stage, police are expected to rely on the latest custodial interrogation to strengthen the prosecution’s case before filing the chargesheet. The outcome of the 39-hour remand could prove significant in determining the full extent of the alleged conspiracy, the flow of the allegedly misappropriated donations, and whether further legal action against additional individuals becomes necessary.
