Oppn asks why no Champat Rai in SIT’s Ram Temple donation theft prelim report

July 9, 2026 Headlinesnews

Lucknow: The absence of former Ram Temple trust general secretary Champat Rai’s name from the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) preliminary report on the alleged misappropriation of donations at the shrine has triggered sharp criticism from Opposition leaders who claimed senior functionaries were being shielded.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the SIT was making a deliberate attempt to protect Champat Rai, whose resignation as the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary was accepted earlier this week, despite his central role in the temple’s administration.

There is a “complete” dishonest attempt to to spare Champat Rai through the SIT report, he told ThePrint. “He is the person most responsible because he served as the Trust’s general secretary. From the acquisition of land near the temple to the temple’s campus development and then monitoring of chadhawa (offerings) etc, all took place under his supervision.”

“The land purchased around the Ram Temple was registered in Champat Rai’s name. Even a parcel of land located nearly six kilometres away from the temple carries his name in the registration records. If he supervised the temple’s construction and management, why is he being spared in the SIT’s preliminary investigation? It is beyond comprehension,” he said.

The SIT probing the alleged donation theft submitted its confidential report to the Uttar Pradesh government late last month. According to the details from the preliminary findings that have emerged now, the report does not mention Champat Rai, while indicating ‘lapses’ by Trust member Anil Mishra in overseeing the donation counting system, security arrangements and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Although the SIT questioned Champat Rai twice during its investigation, his name was neither included in the preliminary report nor mentioned in the FIR registered in the case.

Singh also accused BJP and VHP leaders of attempting to defend Champat Rai. Referring to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s statement that allegations against Champat Rai were politically motivated and reflected the Opposition’s frustration, Singh said the ruling party was dismissing legitimate questions rather than addressing them.

Maurya also said that police had already registered cases against those responsible for the alleged theft of donation, and that the investigation was proceeding against the actual culprits.

Temple Trust treasurer Govind Giri, in media interactions in Ayodhya On Tuesday, said the temple’s functioning was largely under Champat Rai’s supervision. He said Rai had “placed trust in the wrong people” and admitted that mistakes had occurred in the administration.

“We can hold him responsible, though not question his character. There were certainly lapses in the functioning, which is why his resignation was unanimously accepted,” Giri said.

Former Samajwadi Party MLA from Ayodhya Pawan Pandey also alleged that authorities were trying to shield Champat Rai.

“This report has been carefully drafted to protect Champat Rai. A portion of the preliminary report was selectively leaked so that smaller players could be blamed while bigger fish were protected. If Champat Rai is implicated, he could reveal the names of those sitting at the top. That is why he is being shielded,” Pandey told ThePrint.

ThePrint reached out to Champat Rai through calls for a comment, but he was unavailable for comment. The report will be updated if and when he responds.

Also Read: Champat Rai takes ‘vow of silence’, pens letter to Ram devotees terming allegations ‘baseless’

What the preliminary report says

According to the SIT’s preliminary findings, accessed by ThePrint, Trust member Anil Mishra failed in supervising the donation counting process, security management and effective implementation of SOPs. However, Rai has not been named among those held accountable in the preliminary report, even though repeated questions were asked of him.

The SIT initial report details 70 instances of alleged donation theft within a span of just 40 days, between 27 April and 5 June 2026. Police have, so far, arrested eight people, recovering Rs 78.94 lakh in cash, foreign currency, valuables and an additional Rs 2.25 lakh concealed in a washroom adjacent to the counting room.

The report highlights serious “lapses” in the temple’s donation management and security systems. It states that cash collected from donation boxes was inadequately monitored, reconciliation procedures were weak and security protocols were routinely violated.

Employees were not subjected to proper frisking, restrictions on carrying personal belongings into the counting room were not enforced and biometric monitoring remained ineffective.

According to the SIT, CCTV footage from the counting room shows several employees “hiding” cash in their clothes, pockets, shoes and other places.

The investigation concluded that the thefts were not isolated incidents but part of a sustained and coordinated operation in which multiple employees allegedly worked together.

The preliminary investigation report names Avinash Shukla, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karnesh Pandey, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Ramashankar as being involved in the alleged offence. Besides them, the police have also arrested two other accused. During the investigation, officials also examined the bank accounts of the employees and their family members, where they reportedly found suspicious financial transactions.

On condition of anonymity, a UP BJP leader said, “We all know that Champat Rai is the Centre’s choice. He has access to the party high command. No matter how much the Opposition shouts against him, it is not easy to damage his standing.”

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)

Also Read: As Champat Rai resignation formalised amid theft row, VHP warns against govt control of Ram Temple

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