Police quiz Champat Rai, others
As part of the ongoing investigation into alleged misuse of donations at the Shri Ram Mandir, Uttar Pradesh Police recorded the statement of Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, on Monday. Police are also expected to take a statement from trustee Dr Anil Mishra as the investigation expands.
Champat Rai and Dr Anil Mishra resigned on moral grounds three days earlier to help ensure a fair investigation. The Trust has confirmed it received their resignations and will discuss them at its next meeting. SIT findings have already led to the arrest of eight accused persons.
The issue came to light earlier this month when former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey claimed that about `7-`7.5 crore in cash had been taken from the temple’s hundis (donation boxes).
At the Trust’s request, the Uttar Pradesh government set up a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13, led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant. The SIT reviewed how donations were collected, counted, and stored, checked financial records, and spoke with nearly 150 people connected to the temple administration. Their initial report pointed out major violations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were finalised in 2025.
Some of the main problems found were the lack of security guards and frisking in the counting room, the retention of CCTV footage for only 45 days instead of the required 180 days, and the unauthorised control of several hundis by Ramashankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, who used to be Champat Rai’s driver. Tinnu Yadav is also accused of hiring his relative to work in the cash-counting unit. Following the SIT’s recommendations, police registered an FIR on June 25 after a complaint from Trust member Krishna Mohan. Eight people involved in the donation-counting process were arrested.
Police have recovered almost `80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency from six of the accused so far. Those arrested include Tinnu Yadav, the donation-counting in-charge Subhash Srivastava, and six others.
In its first official statement on Saturday, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said it was “shocked, hurt and deeply saddened” by what had happened. The Trust assured devotees that all offerings, including silver bricks, ornaments, and other valuables, are safe, secure, and properly documented. “The Trust has received the resignations of Shri Champat Rai, General Secretary, and trustee Shri Anil Mishra. The resignations will be considered at the next meeting of the Trust,” the statement said. The Trust also said it is committed to a fair investigation and to restoring devotees’ confidence.
Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee, defended Champat Rai’s integrity, saying it “can never be questioned” because of his long involvement with the Ram temple movement. However, he said he could not speak for other senior office-bearers and suggested appointing a full-time Chief Executive Officer to manage temple operations, thereby improving transparency and accountability.
Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, have called for a thorough investigation and asked why senior Trust officials were not named in the FIR. The State Government has said the investigation will be fair and that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust manages the Ram Mandir, which was consecrated on January 22, 2024. Since then, the temple has seen a large number of devotees and substantial cash and other offerings. The investigation is ongoing, and more senior Trust officials are expected to be questioned, police sources said.
