Pathikrit.ChakrabortyLucknow: Ayodhya Police is considering narco-analysis and polygraph examinations of five jailed accused in the donation theft case to unravel the larger conspiracy, establish the money trail and ascertain the possible involvement of other individuals, including senior functionaries, police sources said.The move comes after police secured court nod to interrogate the accused inside jail.The five accused—Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Manish Yadav—were questioned inside the district jail on Sunday, where their statements were formally recorded. Police are expected to confront them with documentary, financial and electronic evidence collected. Depending on the outcome of the questioning, police may seek the custody of the accused individually for further interrogation.Sources said police believe that narco-analysis and polygraph examinations could prove useful in resolving contradictions in the statements of the accused, reconstructing the alleged modus operandi, tracing the movement of siphoned funds and identifying additional persons who may have played a role in the alleged embezzlement. The tests may also help investigators determine whether the accused acted independently or as part of a larger organised network operating within or around the temple’s donation management system.Sources said any disclosures made during such examinations could generate fresh investigative leads regarding hidden cash, financial transactions, digital devices, communication channels or documentary evidence. Investigators would then independently corroborate such information through CCTV footage, bank account analysis, call detail records, forensic examination, witness statements and other admissible evidence before drawing any conclusions.Police are examining whether there was any institutional or supervisory lapse in the handling of temple donations and whether senior functionaries had prior knowledge of, or involvement in, the alleged conspiracy.The proposed examinations form part of the broader investigation into the alleged donation embezzlement, which has also seen scrutiny of donation collection mechanisms, financial records, audit documents and expenditure incurred by the Ram Temple Trust.
