Ayodhya (UP), Jul 15: The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) on Wednesday granted seven days instead of one month sought by Supriya Mishra, the wife of Ram temple donation embezzlement accused Lavkush Mishra, to submit documents related to a house under construction in the Sahadatganj area here.
The request came a day after the ADA issued a final notice over the alleged unauthorised construction of the house and warned that the building could be sealed if the required documents were not submitted by July 15.
Supriya Mishra visited the ADA office accompanied by her daughter and father and submitted a formal application seeking one month to complete the documentation process for the property located in Banvirpur, sources in the ADA said.
According to the sources, the authority directed Supriya Mishra to produce all valid records and files related to the property within the next seven days.
The plot is registered in the name of Supriya Mishra, while Lavkush Mishra is currently in jail in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations.
The ADA had earlier issued a notice on July 3 regarding the construction, and after receiving no response, pasted a second notice describing it as the final opportunity to submit the approved building plan and other relevant documents.
Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Mahendra Kumar Singh had said the action was initiated under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.
The development comes amid an ongoing probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations offered at the Ram temple.
According to investigators, Lavkush Mishra was among the eight people associated with the temple’s donation-counting process who were arrested following an FIR lodged on June 25 on the basis of a preliminary report of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Police have said Rs 14.25 lakh was recovered from Lavkush Mishra during the investigation. The highest cash recovery in the case, Rs 20.39 lakh, was made from co-accused Avinash Shukla, who was allegedly involved in counting donations at the temple.
Investigators have also seized a donation box labelled “Ramrajya Kosh”, along with foreign currency, gold and silver, during searches linked to the case.
The alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations came to light in the first week of June and the investigation is continuing. Eight people have been arrested so far while two functionaries, including Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, have resigned their posts in the wake of mounting controversy. (PTI)
