Lucknow: The controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in handling donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple took a fresh turn Tuesday, with Ram Janmabhoomi Movement activist Santosh Dubey filing a police complaint, seeking an FIR against temple trust functionaries including Champat Rai and his associates.
Apart from the ongoing donation theft allegations, Dubey alleged, around 1,250 gold, silver, diamond-studded and ashtadhatu (eight-metal alloy) bricks received at donations during the Ram Temple movement have also gone missing.
According to him, some of the most valuable donations included a brick sent from Mauritius and another donated by a Mumbai-based businessman that was studded with diamonds.
The complaint, submitted on Tuesday at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station in Ayodhya, names Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai, member Anil Mishra, temple administrator Gopal Rao and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, who was associated with Rai as a driver.
Dubey has demanded registration of an FIR and a detailed investigation, including polygraph tests of those named in the complaint.
Trust General Secretary Champat Rai has remained unavailable for comment amid the controversy. His close associates said he is unwell and not in a position to respond. Trust member Anil Mishra is also currently outside Uttar Pradesh, reportedly undergoing medical treatment.
ThePrint reached out to both Rai and Mishra through phone calls and messages, but no response was received. The report will be updated if and when they respond.
Dubey has been associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement since his teenage years and was among those accused in cases linked to the demolition of the Babri structure in 1992. He claims to have sustained bullet injuries during the movement and says he was jailed under the National Security Act(NSA) in the 90s. Currently, he is running a Hindu-outfit named as Dharamsena.
Speaking to ThePrint, Dubey claimed these four individuals were responsible for irregularities related to temple donations and the alleged disappearance of valuable bricks received during the Ram Temple movement.
He claimed that when late VHP leader Ashok Singhal had appealed to devotees and kar sevaks across the country to contribute bricks for the proposed Ram temple, many donated bricks made of gold, silver and precious metals, some even studded with diamonds and gemstones.
“These valuable bricks have disappeared over the last few years and their whereabouts remain unknown. Questions had earlier been raised regarding land purchases linked to temple construction where Champat played an important role,” Dubey told ThePrint.
He also demanded an inquiry into the assets of individuals associated with the trust. He questioned how some persons linked to temple management have allegedly accumulated substantial wealth over the years. He alleged that a person who once worked as a driver, referring to Tinnu Yadav, was now reportedly the owner of assets worth crores of rupees.
“Ram Naam ki loot machi hai, loot sako toh loot lo,” Dubey said, taking a dig at those he accused of irregularities.
“Earlier people spoke of looting in the name of Ram, now it appears there is a scramble over Ram’s donations,” he claimed, demanding strict action against those found guilty after a fair investigation.
Meanwhile, the four member Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged donation theft case continued its inquiry. On Tuesday, investigators reportedly spent nearly six hours examining the process through which offerings are collected, counted, packed and deposited in banks. Officials also reviewed relevant records and administrative procedures.
Sources in the Uttar Pradesh Police said that details of employees and personnel associated with the donation management system over the past year were collected during the first phase of the inquiry. The SIT has started questioning trust employees, cash-counting staff and others involved in handling donations to determine whether any irregularities, negligence or misconduct took place.
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Several individuals under scrutiny
The probe has also brought multiple individuals connected to temple operations under the scanner.
Tinnu Yadav, a former driver and associate of Champat Rai, is in the spotlight though SIT has not yet called him for questioning. Sources close to Trust claim that movable and immovable assets worth over 20 crore linked to Tinnu Yadav have come under scrutiny.
Once known locally as an auto-rickshaw driver, he is now reported to have interests in hostels, restaurants and properties in Ayodhya and Lucknow.
Tinnu Yadav’s nephew, Manish Yadav, who was reportedly associated with the cash counting process, is also being questioned. Sources claim that cash amounting to Rs 36 lakh was recovered from a location identified during the investigation, though official confirmation is awaited.
Similarly, sources indicate that Anukalp Mishra, who was associated with the cash-counting team and Lavkush Mishra, another individual linked to the donation management system, are being investigated. Their properties and financial transactions are reportedly being examined as part of the broader inquiry.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy deepens: Mahant, BJP leader, retired official seek probe
We used to call such corruption as a scam before under Congree government. Under Modi, it’s a scam if opposition are involved, or else, it’s missing thing!!
Corruption under Modi is normalised for RSS/BJP politicians and leaders.