Ayodhya GST Seizure: 200 kg Silver Recovered At Raunahi Toll Plaza, Ram Mandir Case Updates

In a significant enforcement action at the Raunahi toll plaza in Ayodhya, the GST department successfully seized approximately 200 kg of silver on Friday. The recovery of such a massive quantity of precious metal, weighing nearly two quintals, has sent shockwaves through the region. According to official reports, the estimated value of the seized silver runs into crores of rupees. The GST team intercepted a vehicle carrying the consignment and immediately took it into custody to initiate a comprehensive investigation. The authorities are currently scrutinizing the documents associated with the silver and verifying the legal validity of its transportation. Initial questioning is focused on identifying the source of the silver and its intended destination. Given the scale of the seizure, the Income Tax Department and other relevant agencies have been formally notified to join the probe. Officials have emphasized that a deep investigation is underway to uncover any potential tax evasion or illegal trade networks.

Revelations in the Ram Mandir Donation Theft Case

Parallel to the silver seizure, major breakthroughs have been reported in the ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Mandir, while it has been revealed that Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, who is considered a close associate of Champat Rai, was allegedly involved in laundering the stolen funds through real estate ventures. Investigations suggest that the money diverted from the temple donations was invested in various property projects. Tinnu Yadav had reportedly established a construction firm named Saundarya Construction in the name of his wife, Poonam. This company has been registered with the Public Works Department (PWD) since 2023. The police are now tracking the financial trail to determine the exact amount of temple funds funneled into this business.

Police Remand and Interrogation Details

The legal proceedings against the accused have gained momentum as the court granted 39 hours of police custody for Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav and Manish Yadav. Although the police had originally requested a 7 day remand, the court approved a 39 hour window, which is expected to commence at 7 AM on Saturday. The process will begin with a mandatory medical checkup at the Police Line, followed by intensive interrogation at the Special Operations Group (SOG) office, while investigators aim to dismantle the network operated by Tinnu Yadav and recover critical documents related to his real estate and construction business. Manish Yadav, the nephew of Tinnu Yadav, is also under heavy suspicion, and the police plan to conduct a search at his residence as part of the remand activities.

Recovery of Documents and Evidence

In a related development, the police conducted a search at the rented accommodation of another accused, Ramashankar Mishra. During the search, a bag containing significant documents related to land and property was recovered. Plus, the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of the CCTV cameras installed at the premises was seized for forensic analysis. The police also carried out raids at locations linked to another suspect, Subhash Srivastava. Authorities are investigating whether the stolen donation money was used to acquire these properties or for other high-value investments. The court had previously allowed 14 hours of police custody for both Mishra and Srivastava on Tuesday. Earlier, the police had interrogated other co-accused, including Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey. These interrogations led to the recovery of two vehicles, cash, gold, and investment documents allegedly acquired through illicit means.

Background of the SIT Investigation

The case regarding the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir first came to light in the first week of June. In response to the gravity of the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 13 June to conduct a thorough probe. The SIT submitted its preliminary report to the government on 23 June, which led to the arrest of eight individuals: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. 39 lakh rupees from Avinash Shukla. On top of that, gold, silver, foreign currency, and a donation box inscribed with "Ramrajya Kosh" were seized, highlighting the extent of the alleged embezzlement.