Ram Mandir theft accused bought Rs 40-lakh house; family says he's being framed

The family of Ram Mandir donation theft accused Anukalp Mishra has denied wrongdoing and said he is being framed. The claim comes amid allegations over a new Ayodhya house and police accusations of diverted temple donations.

In Short

• Anukalp Mishra's sister denies wrongdoing and calls allegations a frame-up
• New Rs 40 lakh house bought in Ayodhya 2 years ago under scrutiny amid probe
• Police arrested eight after an SIT report on missing temple donations

The family of Anukalp Mishra, one of the main accused in the Ram Mandir donation theft case, has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he is being "framed in the case", even as questions have emerged over a new house reportedly worth Rs 40 lakh purchased by the family in Ayodhya twi years ago.

The development came as India Today team visited Mishra's residence in Ayodhya. Although people were present inside the house, no one opened the door. However, Anukalp's sister spoke to India Today from behind the closed door and defended her brother.

"My brother is being framed. The house was purchased two years ago and we have done nothing wrong," she said, dismissing the allegations against the family.

Anukalp Mishra is among the eight people arrested after Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR in connection with the alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The arrests came after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its report to the state government.

Asked if Anukalp had shared anything with the family before his arrest while the probe was underway, his sister said, "He did not tell us anything. We only know that we are being falsely implicated."

Responding to allegations levelled by Anukalp's paternal aunt, Neha Mishra, she said, "Neha Mishra is nothing to us. She married our uncle around 10 years ago and we have an ongoing legal dispute with her. That is why she wants us to be implicated. She does not even live here and we have nothing to do with her."

Neha Mishra has made a series of allegations regarding the family's financial growth. She claimed that the family's economic condition was modest before Anukalp began working with the Ram Mandir Trust and alleged that their lifestyle changed dramatically within a few years.

According to her, Anukalp purchased a house in Ayodhya, while his father acquired several expensive properties and a new vehicle. She also alleged that co-accused Lavkush Mishra, who earlier worked in a low-paying job, purchased a plot worth around Rs 40 lakh in Ayodhya as well, where a large house is now under construction.

Questioning the source of the family's sudden wealth, Neha Mishra asked, "Where did all this money come from all of a sudden?"

According to the investigators, Anukalp Mishra was entrusted with counting and managing donations received at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and allegedly played a key role in the suspected fraud.

Police claim he worked alongside his brother-in-law, Lavkush Mishra, who has also been arrested in the case. During the investigation, police reportedly recovered around Rs 10 lakh in cash from Lavkush Mishra's residence.

According to investigators, trust officials first noticed irregularities in the last week of May while reviewing donation records. Although donation boxes typically contained around Rs 7 lakh each time they were opened, officials found repeated shortfalls in bundles of Rs 500 notes.

To verify their suspicions, hidden cameras were installed inside the donation-counting room. Investigators claim the footage showed employees deliberately obstructing the view of visible CCTV cameras while another person removed currency notes from bundles and concealed them in their clothing.

Police have also alleged that the accused used another method to siphon off money by inserting extra currency notes into bundles while preparing donation vouchers.

The additional notes were removed during the transfer of cash from the temple to the bank, allowing official records to match while a portion of the donations was diverted.

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