Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: SIT Gives Clears Chit to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple has cleared former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra of all charges.

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department submitted the SIT’s final investigation report to the temple trust on Monday for further action. Both Rai and Mishra had resigned from their positions on June 27 after allegations of donation irregularities surfaced.

Investigation Focuses on Internal Protocols

The three-member investigation panel, led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, questioned both Rai and Mishra regarding management and collection practices at the temple.

During questioning, Rai denied any involvement in the irregularities. He informed investigators that he had personally lodged the original complaint regarding the suspected theft, leading to initial arrests. Rai maintained that maintaining transparency in donation collections fell under his responsibility and that he acted promptly upon discovering the alleged wrongdoing.

Developments in the Probe

• SIT Formation: The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the panel on 13 June following a request from the temple trust, prior to Supreme Court intervention.
• Initial Findings: The SIT submitted a preliminary report on 23 June, recommending formal legal proceedings and procedural changes.
• Police Action: Trust member Krishnamohan filed a written complaint on 25 June, resulting in an FIR against eight named individuals and unnamed suspects.

Multiple Arrests Following Preliminary Report

The panel, which included Inspector General of Police (Range) Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar, used its initial findings to frame the core case.

Following the June 25 FIR at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station, authorities arrested eight primary accused: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav.

Legal Charges Framed Under BNS

Police booked all eight individuals under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The preliminary findings of the SIT continue to serve as the foundation for ongoing legal proceedings and subsequent arrests linked to the financial irregularities at the site.