Overview
- The three-member Special Investigation Team has finished drafting its findings and is expected to give a status update to the Supreme Court on Monday, July 20, while seeking more time to finalise its report.
- Police registered an FIR and arrested eight people after a preliminary SIT report prompted action, and investigators have recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash and seized jewellery, vehicles and bank records tied to the probe.
- A special court on Friday granted 39 hours of police remand for key accused Ram Shankar 'Tinnu' Yadav and his nephew Manish Yadav so investigators can carry out custodial questioning and follow leads to trace more cash and assets.
- CCTV footage has been central evidence showing workers concealing bundles of notes during counting, and the inquiry has widened to examine roughly 30–50 counting-room employees plus senior trust practices and ad-hoc hiring that may have enabled the siphoning.
- The case has spread beyond Ayodhya with the SIT arresting a former Badrinath temple officer after video showed him pocketing donations, and petitioners are pressing for independent forensic, CBI or CAG audits if the court orders further oversight.