The investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation misappropriation case has entered a crucial phase, with Ayodhya Police recording the statement of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai as part of the ongoing probe. Investigators are also preparing to question several other individuals connected to the case in the coming days.
Champat Rai’s Statement Recorded
According to senior Uttar Pradesh Police sources, Champat Rai has already been examined by investigators. His statement forms part of the evidence collection process aimed at verifying facts surrounding the alleged financial irregularities linked to temple donations.
Officials said statements of former trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao are yet to be recorded. Both are expected to be questioned as the investigation progresses.
Nearly 140 People Likely to Be Examined
Police have launched a phased exercise to record statements from nearly 140 individuals associated with the temple’s donation collection and management system.
Investigators are expected to question personnel involved in counting donations, staff responsible for transporting cash to banks, bank officials who handled deposits and security personnel deployed during the donation-counting process.
Officials believe these statements will help reconstruct the movement of funds and establish whether standard procedures were followed.
Police Conducted Raids at Multiple Locations
The latest development comes shortly after Ayodhya Police carried out coordinated search operations at 10 locations linked to the investigation.
Sources said the raids continued for nearly six to eight hours, during which family members of several accused persons were also questioned. Investigators are examining their possible role while gathering additional evidence related to the alleged financial irregularities.
Cash, Jewellery and Financial Documents Seized
During the searches, police reportedly recovered cash, jewellery, bank passbooks, property registration papers, agreement documents and jewellery purchase bills.
Investigators have also identified details of several recently acquired properties allegedly connected to the accused. Preliminary findings indicate that some of these assets may have been purchased in the names of family members.
Officials are now scrutinising financial records and property transactions to determine whether the assets were acquired using funds allegedly diverted from temple donations.
Probe Focuses on Donation Management System
The alleged embezzlement of donations has become one of the biggest controversies surrounding the Ram Temple administration. So far, eight people associated with the counting of cash and valuables have been arrested following the preliminary findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
According to sources, the SIT’s initial report highlighted multiple procedural lapses in the donation management process. These reportedly included failure to deploy security personnel during cash counting, inadequate frisking of staff entering and exiting the counting room, and non-preservation of CCTV footage for the mandatory 180-day period.
The investigation remains ongoing, with officials continuing to analyse financial records, seized documents and witness statements to identify all those allegedly involved in the case.
