Champat Rai denies approving Ram Temple cash counting SOP, blames SBI for security lapses
Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai has denied approving the 2025 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for counting cash donations at the Ram Temple, claiming he was never shown the document and blaming the State Bank of India (SBI) for failing to enforce security protocols.
In his written statement to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Rai said he had personally signed every page of the Trust's February 9, 2024 agreement with SBI, under which security measures such as CCTV cameras and an iron-barred entrance to the counting room were installed. However, he rejected a separate February 6, 2025 guideline document, saying it bore the signatures of former trustee Anil Mishra and the then SBI branch manager but not his own.
"I absolutely do not agree with this letter. I reject it," Rai reportedly told investigators, adding that he became aware of the 2025 guidelines only on June 13, 2026, after they were shown to him by the Trust's accounts office. He questioned why his signature was never obtained despite his role as the Trust's general secretary.
Rai also alleged that SBI failed to implement and monitor mandatory security measures laid down in the agreement. He said bank protocols required frisking of personnel entering and leaving the cash vault and uniforms without pockets, but these rules were allegedly not followed. According to Rai, the uniforms initially provided by the bank even had pockets, creating opportunities for misuse.
The statement comes amid an ongoing SIT probe into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations. The controversy has already led to the resignations of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, while investigators continue examining financial records, bank documents and witness statements to determine accountability in the case.
