The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft and irregularities in donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has given a clean chit to former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra, according to reports.
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has submitted the SIT’s final report to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action. Neither Rai nor Mishra has been named in the final report as an accused.
Champat Rai Denies Involvement
Rai and Mishra had resigned from their positions in the Trust on June 27, amid allegations of irregularities in the handling of temple donations.
During questioning, Rai reportedly denied any involvement in the alleged theft. He told investigators that he had himself raised the complaint that eventually led to the arrest of the accused.
Rai also told the SIT that ensuring transparency in the collection and management of donations was part of his responsibility and that he acted after learning about the alleged irregularities.
Eight Arrested in Donation Theft Case
The investigation began after allegations emerged in June regarding discrepancies in the handling of cash donations at the Ram Temple.
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 following a request from the temple Trust. The panel was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar as members.
The SIT’s preliminary report reportedly found prima facie evidence of irregularities, following which an FIR was registered at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station on June 25.
Eight people named in the FIR have been arrested. They are Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu.
Cash Theft Allegedly Detected Multiple Times
According to the preliminary findings, cash thefts were allegedly detected nearly 70 times in the temple’s donation counting room between April 27 and June 5, 2026.
The investigation reportedly examined CCTV footage and found instances in which employees allegedly concealed and removed cash. The SIT also pointed to lapses in the standard operating procedure followed by the Trust and the State Bank of India for handling donations.
Among the reported lapses was the absence of proper frisking and security checks for people entering and leaving the counting area.
The final SIT report, however, has cleared Rai and Mishra of involvement in the alleged donation theft. The Trust will now consider the findings and decide on further action in the matter.
