The alleged embezzlement of devotees’ donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya took a significant turn as Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra stepped down from their positions. This move follows increased scrutiny over the management of temple donations and an investigation into the misappropriation of offerings.
All eight previously arrested individuals, including temple attendants and a retired bank employee, have been placed in judicial custody. Authorities are now focusing on the potential involvement of banking officials, suspecting an organized scheme that diverted temple funds over an extended period.
Rai and Mishra’s resignations, based on moral grounds, came shortly after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) highlighted serious management lapses in handling donations and cash offerings at the temple. Their departure is seen as a significant step towards accountability following public outrage over the controversy.
The resignations occurred after the registration of an FIR against eight individuals accused of colluding to divert cash and valuables donated by devotees. These accused individuals, including a retired bank employee, were remanded to judicial custody until June 29. Authorities are planning detailed interrogations to uncover the alleged conspiracy and identify additional beneficiaries.
The accused individuals, each with specific roles in the alleged embezzlement, include Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, who has emerged as a central figure in the investigation. Tinnu, a former driver of Champat Rai, is suspected of leveraging his access within the temple administration to manipulate donation handling.
Investigators are also looking into the involvement of former and current banking personnel, suspecting that the embezzlement scheme extended beyond the temple premises. The State Bank of India, authorized to manage cash offerings at the temple, is under scrutiny for potential manipulation of banking procedures to facilitate fund diversion.
Police suspect the operation may have been ongoing for two to three years, with cash allegedly hidden in temple washrooms before being distributed and channeled into syndicate-linked accounts. CCTV footage and financial records are being analyzed to trace cash movements and identify all involved parties.
The investigation was initiated after the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member SIT following irregularities flagged in donation handling by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The preliminary report led to the FIR registration and subsequent arrests.
