Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case: Champat Rai calls allegations ‘baseless’ to react after SIT report | Today’s news
Former general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai on Tuesday broke his silence on allegations of misappropriation of donations linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, terming the allegations against him as “baseless” and saying that he will look into each allegation only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) completes its probe.
His statement came a day after the Trust formally accepted his resignation, even as opposition parties stepped up allegations of a cover-up and renewed demands for an independent investigation.
The controversy has put the Ram Temple Trust under increasing public scrutiny, with political parties questioning its functioning, while a police investigation into alleged donation theft continues.
Champat Rai says SIT report will reveal ‘whole truth’
In a handwritten letter addressed to “Ram devotees”, Rai said he had deliberately chosen to remain silent while the investigation was ongoing.
He described his public life as an “open book” and said the allegations against him were baseless.
Rai noted that the SIT’s preliminary findings had already been tabled before the Trust’s AGM and that the report, initially classified as “top secret”, had since been made public.
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He wrote that once the SIT submits its final report, it will respond to each allegation individually and ensure that the “whole truth” is presented to the public.
Rai also shared a letter to X along with a verse from Ramcharitmanas: “Dheeraj dharm mitra aru naari, aapad kaal parikhiye chari” (Patience, justice, friends and spouse are tested in times of adversity).
The Ram Mandir Trust confirms that Rai is no longer a member
The trust clarified on Tuesday that Rai and his colleague Anil Mishra have formally ceased to be members after their resignations were accepted during a meeting on Monday.
Krishna Mohan, a former Indian Forest Service officer, has been appointed as the interim general secretary. The Trust is expected to decide at its next meeting on July 22 whether the appointment will be made permanent.
“As of now, the Trust has appointed an interim general secretary, but the Trust may later decide to make the appointment permanent,” said Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri.
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The trust has also set up a three-member search committee to identify a chief executive and announced plans to strengthen its donation management system to prevent future irregularities.
UP Police is intensifying its investigation into the Ram Mandir donation theft case
The Ayodhya police investigation remains active.
Officials are preparing to confront the three accused, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey, with evidence gathered during the interrogation of five other arrested suspects on July 5.
All eight accused were arrested on June 25 and remain in custody. Investigators interviewed them in prison after obtaining special permission from the court.
Meanwhile, some groups have demanded that Rai and other members of the Trust should also be named in the FIR as the investigation progresses.
Congress claims it’s a “cover-up”, asks Supreme Court to investigate
The opposition stepped up its attack after Rai’s statement, accusing the BJP and RSS of trying to shield those responsible.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the resignations were used to divert attention from the larger controversy.
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“The people of the country believe that through resignations and limited actions, an attempt is being made to cover up the whole matter and protect the real culprits and big players,” he wrote on X.
He demanded that the existing Trust be dissolved and replaced by a new body comprising Shankaracharyas, Dharmacharyas, saints and religious representatives.
“The public has no faith in the Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT. The investigation of the case should be conducted independently under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge,” he said.
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also accused the BJP and RSS of “capturing” the temple administration.
The Congress organized protest marches in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra over the alleged misuse of temple donations, while the Aam Aadmi Party also demanded stronger action.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said, “FIR alone is not enough.”
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called for a CBI probe monitored by a Supreme Court judge, while the Samajwadi Party similarly pressed for judicial intervention.
Yogi Adityanath accuses opposition of targeting Ayodhya
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed the opposition’s allegations, arguing that the Trust itself sought an independent investigation.
“The SIT’s preliminary report led the Trust to take action. However, for the last month, the Samajwadi Party, Congress and other so-called secular parties have been campaigning to defame Ayodhya.”
He added, “They are targeting Ayodhya, targeting Ram Janmabhoomi and attacking the faith of millions. This is a malicious attempt to create a negative atmosphere in the country.”
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Adityanath said that the Trust had asked the state government to form the SIT precisely to ensure that the facts emerge independently.
He also accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of selectively targeting Hindu institutions while remaining silent on issues related to Waqf properties.
The Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust says all the valuables donated are accounted for
In an attempt to reassure devotees, the Trust has released detailed records of donations received over the past three financial years.
Treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the Trust currently holds more than 32 kg of gold-like objects and more than 1,518 kg of silver and silver-like objects, all of which have been properly documented.
According to the Trust, 2,926 valuable items donated by devotees are safe, with a receipt issued for each contribution.
The trust also displayed several donated items, including a gold Ramcharitmanas, in front of the media after allegations surfaced that the expensive offerings had gone missing.
Giri urged anyone with credible evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to the SIT instead of making unverified public allegations.
