Ayodhya

Prime accused in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu and his nephew Manish Yadav were taken into police custody and moved to the Police Lines for medical examination on Saturday, sources said.

A special anti-corruption court on Friday granted a 39-hour police remand of the two key accused, though the police had sought seven days, officials said.

According to police sources, investigators questioned the duo in jail on Thursday before moving the remand application, after obtaining fresh leads during the probe.

Tinnu, who was considered close to former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, allegedly supervised the temple's donation boxes, while Manish was involved in counting the offerings, officials said.

Police had earlier recovered Rs 1 lakh from Tinnu's residence and Rs 2 lakh from Manish's house.

Officials said that during the remand, investigators are expected to take the two accused to various locations to question them about the alleged theft, trace more stolen cash and valuables, and verify properties allegedly purchased using the siphoned-off money.

Before seeking the custody of Tinnu and Manish, police had interrogated six other accused on custodial remand.

Investigators also submitted in the court cash, jewellery and documents related to properties recovered earlier this week at the instance of former bank employees Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Mishra, who were questioned earlier.

The alleged theft of donations offered at the Ram temple surfaced in the first week of June and has so far led to the arrest of eight persons and the resignation of two senior functionaries from the Trust.

READ MORE: Shaista Amber: A powerful voice for Muslim women’s rights

Opposition parties have said that they will raise the donation theft issue during the Monsoon session of Parliament, which is scheduled to begin on July 20.