Ram Mandir Offering Theft Case: Court Sends Eight Accused to 14-Day Judicial Custody

An Ayodhya court has sent all eight accused in the Ram Mandir offering theft case to 14 days of judicial custody after they were produced before the court. During the proceedings, the police did not seek their custodial remand. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 13, and the accused will remain in jail until then. The accused were produced before the Duty Magistrate through video conferencing from jail. During the hearing, the police submitted the case diary and other documents related to the investigation. The investigating agency informed the court that the probe is still underway and several important aspects of the case are yet to be examined. It stated that keeping the accused in judicial custody is necessary while the investigation continues. The police also informed the court that the FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Following the preliminary investigation and the collection of initial evidence, all eight accused were arrested. After their arrest, the Duty Magistrate had earlier sent them to jail for three days. The police said additional time is required to continue the investigation and gather further evidence, following which judicial custody was requested. The court was further informed that raids were conducted at the residences of the accused on Sunday. During the searches, the police recovered cash, gold and silver jewellery, along with several important documents. These recovered items are currently being examined to determine whether they are linked to the alleged theft case. Meanwhile, before the court proceedings, lawyers in Ayodhya held a meeting and resolved that none of them would represent the accused in the Ram Mandir offering theft case. The lawyers also demanded that Champat Rai, Gopal Rao and Anil Mishra leave Ayodhya. They warned that protests would be held if the demand was not met.