SIT Gives Clean Chit to Champat Rai, Anil Mishra in Theft Case

The Special Investigation Team probing alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has cleared former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra of any wrongdoing in the case. The Uttar Pradesh Home Department on Monday handed over the SIT’s final report to the temple Trust for further action. Both Rai and Mishra had resigned from their positions after allegations of irregularities in donation management emerged.

Rai and Mishra resigned from the Trust on June 27, following the allegations, and were subsequently questioned by investigators about the temple’s donation collection and management procedures. According to sources, Rai denied any involvement in the alleged theft during questioning. He reportedly told investigators that he had acted after becoming aware of the alleged wrongdoing and that it was on his complaint that suspects in the case were arrested.

The three-member SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 at the request of the Trust. The panel was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with Range Inspector General Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar as its other members. The investigation followed concerns over the handling of donations at the temple, with the team examining the procedures and allegations surrounding the collection and management of funds.

Also Read: Ram Temple Trust CEO Recruitment: 20 Shortlisted From 5,200 Applications For Interviews

The SIT submitted its preliminary report to the state government on June 23 and made several recommendations concerning the temple’s donation management system. Following the preliminary findings, Trust member Krishnamohan submitted a written complaint at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station. An FIR was subsequently registered on June 25, marking the formal beginning of criminal proceedings in the alleged donation theft case.

The FIR named eight people — Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu — along with unidentified individuals. According to the report, all the named accused were arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The preliminary SIT report also formed the basis for subsequent FIRs and arrest-related action.

The final SIT report clearing Rai and Mishra now rests with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action. Rai had served as the Trust’s general secretary and was among the senior officials responsible for its functioning before his resignation. The latest findings distinguish the former Trust officials from those named as accused in the criminal case and conclude the investigative process against Rai and Mishra, subject to any further action that may follow from the Trust or other authorities.

Also Read: Amit Shah To Address Student Protests; Opposition Seeks Debate On Ram Temple Trust