Ram Temple Trust confirms resignations of Champat Rai, trustee Mishra as SIT probes donation theft

The Trust says it is 'deeply hurt' by the controversy, assures devotees that all donations are safe, and says the resignations will be considered on July 11.

Ayodhya, Jan 22 (ANI): Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai addresses during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, in Ayodhya on Monday. (ANI Photo)

Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday officially confirmed that its General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr Anil Mishra have submitted their resignations amid an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The trust issued an official statement on Friday confirming that it has received the resignations of both senior office-bearers. The resignation letters will be placed before the Trust’s next meeting on July 11, when a final decision on whether to accept them will be taken.

The Trust said  ‘Hum stabdh aahat aur atyant dukhi hain” (we are shocked, deeply hurt and saddened” by the recent “unpleasant and unfortunate developments” linked to the Ram Temple premises. It added that, as the representative of millions of Ram devotees and volunteers, it is committed to ensuring a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter.

The July 11 meeting is also expected to discuss the appointment of a new General Secretary and consider a successor to Dr. Anil Mishra as a trustee, if the resignations are accepted.

 Trust seeks to reassures devotees over donations

Seeking to dispel rumours and reassure millions of devotees, the Trust said all valuables, including silver bricks, gold ornaments and other precious items that had been personally handed over by devotees to Trust officials remain safe. It asserted that every item has been properly accounted for and that complete records of all donations are available.

The Trust alleged that certain “anti-social, irreligious and self-serving elements” were attempting to use the controversy to malign Sanatan Dharma, adding that such attempts would not be allowed to succeed under any circumstances.

The Trust also appealed to devotees not to believe or circulate misleading and baseless rumours on social media and other platforms. Expressing confidence that the truth would emerge, it said the current controversy would soon be resolved and the facts would come to light.

Uttar Pradesh police have so far arrested eight individuals named in the FIR registered on Thursday. Those eight individuals, including Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, are said to be a close aide of Champat Rai, along with several members of the temple’s cash handling and counting team.

The FIR names Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Ramashankar Mishra and Subhash Chandra Srivastava. It also names unidentified persons, indicating that more individuals could be added to the investigation if evidence came up.

The case has been registered under Section 306 (theft by clerk or servant, or by a person employed in a position of trust), 316 (Criminal breach of trust), 317 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant, banker, merchant, agent etc), and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).