As the investigation into the Ram Temple offering theft case is progressing, new revelations are emerging. The police team investigating the case, after getting permission from the court, reached the district jail on Tuesday and interrogated Avinash Shukla, one of the main accused, intensively for about two hours. During interrogation, information was collected on many important points related to the use of stolen money, properties purchased with it, bank accounts and investments. Now the statement of the accused is being matched with documentary and digital evidence.
CO Ayodhya Ashutosh Tiwari reached the district jail at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon. According to sources, during interrogation, Avinash Shukla admitted to the theft, but he avoided giving a clear answer to the question of how long the theft was being carried out. The officers also asked him where the stolen money was spent, to whom the money reached and what properties were created from it.
Sources say that based on the input received from the interrogation conducted in the jail, the police can soon take action on new seizures. If necessary, an application will also be filed in the court to take the accused on police custody remand. On receiving the remand, efforts will be made to interrogate the accused face to face, verify the incidents and connect other links related to the stolen amount.
The scope of investigation has now been extended to Pratapgarh district. Avinash Shukla is a resident of Babupur village of Maheshganj police station area. The police is collecting details of his ancestral and other properties with the help of the local administration. Along with this, bank accounts, investment schemes, insurance policies and other financial documents located in Pratapgarh are also being investigated, so that the complete account of the use of the stolen money can be revealed.
The investigation team reached Tulsi Udyan branch of SBI on Monday and studied the MOU signed between Ram Mandir Trust and the bank. On the basis of this, inquiry has also been started against the bank employees engaged in calculation work. According to sources, about 14 employees from the bank were engaged in this work. The investigating agency is deciding the roles and responsibilities of all the employees. After inquiry, action can also be taken against those officers or employees whose negligence and involvement comes to light.
During the investigation, major lapses in security arrangements have also come to light. The rule was that one would enter the counting room wearing clothes without pockets and mobile phones would be completely banned. Despite this, the accused allegedly used to carry mobile phones inside by hiding them in clothes. However, the accused have not yet been able to give clear information on how the cash was taken out from the donation box and how the security system was dodged.
Till now eight accused have been sent to jail in this case. In the first phase, the police have recovered Rs 79.85 lakh from their possession, out of which the maximum of Rs 20.39 lakh was recovered from Avinash Shukla. Investigating agencies believe that after interrogation and financial investigation, many more important revelations related to this entire network can be made.
