Praveen Tiwari, Ayodhya: While the exact timeline of when the donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya began being stolen remains a mystery, the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe is set to uncover the truth.

As the temple's CCTV cameras only hold records for up to 45 days, video evidence alone cannot account for the full scale of the crime. Consequently, the confessions of the accused and the police investigation will be crucial to revealing how much money was embezzled.

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The June 4 Breakthrough

The case came to light on June 4 when a gatekeeper spotted Rs 40,000 in notes in a temple bathroom. The gatekeeper immediately alerted Champat Rai, the then-general secretary of the trust, who rushed to the scene and informed the security officers and trustees. Rai then informed the police, after which the process of money recovery began.

Rs 81.19 Lakh Recovered In 17 Hours

In a 17-hour coordinated operation with trust officials, authorities recovered a total of Rs 81.19 lakh from various locations. According to sources, the cash was recovered from the homes of the accused in Ayodhya, as well as in Nanpara (Bahraich) and Kunda (Pratapgarh). Among the accused, Ramashankar Mishra hails from Nanpara, while Avinash Shukla's ancestral home is located in Pratapgarh.

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Champat Rai Deployed 21-Member Team After Donation Theft

Upon being alerted to the theft at the donation counting site, the then-General Secretary of the trust, Champat Rai, immediately deployed a 21-member team. He summoned his close associates and trustees to the temple, expressing deep outrage and initiating the recovery of the funds. During this entire operation, the team did not leave the temple premises.

As the pressure mounted and the police tightened their grip, the parents of some of the accused reportedly rushed to the temple, handing over the stolen cash to the trust in a desperate bid to protect their children.

While some police officers were aware of these developments, neither Champat Rai nor police officers have issued any official statements regarding the operation.