Ayodhya Ram temple donation probe widens, Champat Rai questioned
Ayodhya police have widened their probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, recording the statement of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra
Ayodhya police have widened their probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, recording the statement of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and examining the role of private security personnel deployed at the complex. The developments came as the trust prepared for a key meeting next week to decide on the resignations of Rai and another senior functionary, Anil Mishra. Read Full Story The case also sparked a fresh political confrontation in Uttar Pradesh. A Congress delegation led by state unit chief Ajay Rai was stopped from visiting the temple in Ayodhya, with the party alleging its leaders were put under "house arrest". Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of hypocrisy, saying those who once questioned Lord Ram were now keen to visit Ayodhya. A police official confirmed to PTI that Champat Rai's statement had been recorded as part of the investigation into the alleged donation embezzlement. "Yes, his statements have been recorded," the official said, declining to say when, where or for how long the questioning lasted. Sources said Ayodhya Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari, who is heading the probe, went to Rai's Bharat Kuti residence at Karsevakpuram and sought details and documents related to the alleged theft. Asked about reports that Rai had admitted delaying the registration of an FIR was a mistake, another police official said, "Sorry, (we) can't say anything on that. What transpired is confidential and can't be shared." Police also questioned accused Avinash Shukla inside the district jail after obtaining court permission, sources said. They added that the trust had recovered Rs 20 lakh from Shukla on June 5.
The investigation has also expanded to look at the role of around 400 private security personnel at the temple complex. According to sources, police are checking duty rosters, CCTV footage, entry and exit records, and statements of guards posted at entry and exit points, darshan routes, and the routes used to carry offerings, to find out whether laid-down security procedures were followed. The controversy began on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged embezzlement of temple donations, a charge dismissed at the time by Champat Rai. A Special Investigation Team set up by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 reportedly found widespread violations of standard operating procedures for handling donations. Based on its preliminary findings, an FIR was registered on June 25 and eight people linked to the donation-counting process were arrested. Police have said nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency were recovered from six of the accused. One of those arrested, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, is a former driver of Champat Rai and, according to the SIT, had keys to several donation boxes in violation of prescribed procedures. Opposition parties and the Faizabad Bar Association have demanded legal action against Rai and Mishra, though neither has been named in the FIR. Repeated calls made by PTI to Rai for comment went unanswered. Meanwhile, the Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Adityanath and the BJP-RSS machinery of protecting those involved in the alleged embezzlement, and demanded that the SIT report be made public. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called it "utterly condemnable" that Congress leaders going to offer prayers at the Ram temple were put "under house arrest in a dictatorial manner".
The BriefWire