Ram Mandir donation theft case has entered a crucial financial scrutiny phase, with police seeking five years of banking records from seven banks linked to the accused and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Investigators are examining bank transactions, cash deposits, withdrawals and fund transfers to determine whether devotees' donations were diverted. Amid the expanding probe, the Ayodhya Bar Association has passed a resolution demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation into the Trust's financial affairs. The Bar has also announced that its members will not represent the accused, warning that any lawyer who does so will face a ₹5 lakh penalty per accused.

The investigation into the murder of BJP aide Chandranath Rath has taken a dramatic turn after the CBI officially cleared Ballia resident Raj Singh of any involvement in the case. What began as a routine Ayodhya darshan trip reportedly turned into a 10-day custodial nightmare for Singh, who claims he was picked up due to mistaken identity and forced to live in fear while under detention in Kolkata. According to Raj Singh, CCTV footage, mobile location data and other records ultimately helped investigators establish that he had no connection to the murder. Following his release, Singh and his family have raised serious allegations against the police, accusing officials of damaging their reputation without properly verifying facts. He has also alleged threats, intimidation and fear of a fake encounter during the days he spent in custody. WATCH