Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust, has indicated he will address the allegations of stolen donations only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) completes its inquiry. In a letter shared on the social media platform X, Rai expressed that his life is an “open book.” He stated that numerous unfounded allegations have been made against him concerning an alleged theft during the counting of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple complex.

Rai expressed concern over various speculations surrounding the situation, maintaining that he opted for silence while these baseless allegations were levelled against him. He emphasised the importance of waiting for the SIT’s final report before he provides a detailed response to the claims made against him.

Commenting on the preliminary report recently disclosed by the SIT, Rai noted that it was intended to remain confidential. He mentioned that this report had been presented during a Trust meeting in July, emphasising the breach of confidentiality that has occurred.

Trust Announces Resignations and Changes

During this period, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has accepted the resignations of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, as confirmed by the Treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj. In addition, the Trust has decided that Gopal Rao, also referred to as Gopal Nagarkatte, will no longer be invited to its meetings, according to statements made by Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, who succeeded Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

The internal developments within the Trust reflect a significant shift in its leadership in light of these ongoing allegations. The decision to accept resignations suggests the Trust is taking the allegations seriously while under scrutiny from both the public and the investigation teams involved.

As proceedings unfold, there appears to be a calculated approach taken by the Trust to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly as significant public interest surrounds the allegations of financial misconduct.

Police Custody Granted for Further Interrogation

In a related development, an Ayodhya Court has granted the police one day’s custody of three individuals—Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey—for additional questioning concerning the alleged embezzlement of donations related to the Ram Temple. The police had requested a longer, seven-day custody, asserting that further interrogation was essential to advance the investigation.

The Investigating Officer conveyed to the court the necessity of questioning these individuals to uncover more information critical to the case. This action highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to delve deeper into the alleged wrongdoing surrounding the donation collection at the temple.

The SIT, in its preliminary report submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government, found initial evidence supporting claims of theft during the counting process of donations. The investigation identified several instances where personnel were captured on CCTV concealing cash in various locations, including clothing and personal items.

According to the report, approximately 70 instances of alleged theft or pilferage were recorded between April 27 and June 5, with several individuals named as having prima facie involvement. The findings list specific names, indicating that further scrutiny into their actions is warranted as investigations continue.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share