Police sources said more arrests could follow and scope of the probe may also expand.
The case involves the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple. A total of eight people have been arrested following an FIR registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of misusing donations from the Ayodhya Ram Temple and announced a statewide 'Ram Raksha' agitation beginning with a protest in Mumbai's Dadar on July 5.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining allegations that he had prior knowledge of the alleged irregularities, while also looking into claims regarding his assets and financial dealings. Dr Mishra has resigned from the Trust on moral grounds following the launch of the investigation.
The recoveries form part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged siphoning of cash and valuables from the temple's donation boxes. While investigators suspect that the total amount misappropriated could be much higher, the documented cash recovery currently stands at ₹79.85 lakh.
Anil Mishra, an RSS veteran and Ram Temple trustee, resigned amid the alleged donation theft row, ending a long association with the temple movement and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Ayodhya SIT gets a 15-day extension in the Ram Mandir donation theft case as jailed suspects confess to multi-crore real estate laundering.
Following the formation of the SIT, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath broke silence and said, “Doodh ka doodh aur paani ka paani ho jayega (it will separate truth from falsehood and bring everything to light).”