LUCKNOW, July 19 -- The Ayodhya Police on Saturday began the 39-hour custodial interrogation of key accused Ram Shankar Yadav alias "Tinnu" and his nephew Manish Yadav in connection with the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple.

A police team reached the district jail around 8 am on Saturday and took custody of the two accused before shifting them to the police lines for medical formalities and sustained questioning.

The police custody remand will continue until 11 pm on Sunday, by which time the investigating team is required to produce both accused before the court and send them back to judicial custody in district jail.

As they were escorted out by circle officer Ashutosh Tiwari, both Tinnu and Manish covered their faces w...