The Ayodhya Ram Mandir offering theft case has taken a new turn. Suddenly, the atmosphere seems to be building in favour of Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the temple trust, while the entire blame seems to be falling on former trustee Anil Mishra.
Question 1: What are the signs that Champat Rai is getting a clean chit?
Answer: 5 major signs are emerging.
Sign- 1: From the Trust to VHP, everyone has come out in support of Champat
- On the afternoon of July 6, a meeting of the Ram Mandir Trust was held. Treasurer Govind Dev Giri said, “Champat Rai was deeply pained by the theft of offerings. He (Champat Rai) says that until justice is served, it does not seem appropriate to remain in the Trust. Thinking this, he has resigned.”
- After this, the members gave their opinions. Most members were against accepting the resignation. On this, founding trustee K. Parasaran, who was connected via video conferencing, said, “According to the Trust’s constitution, a resignation is considered accepted as soon as it is submitted.” Due to this, Champat Rai’s resignation was automatically accepted.
During the meeting at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, eight office bearers of the trust were present. Three members joined online.
- Govind Dev told the media, “I have known Champat Rai for 32 years. His only mistake was that he trusted his close people too much. We respect him a lot. In my opinion, he is spotless, not a criminal.”
- Champat Rai continues to hold the post of Vice President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). VHP President Alok Kumar told Dainik Bhaskar on July 7. “Champat Rai will remain in his post in VHP. It is not appropriate to make a decision by listening to one person’s side. Until the allegations are proven, no action should be taken.”
Sign- 2: The things that were accused of being stolen came to light
- After the theft of offerings came to light, several allegations were directly made against Champat Rai. Donors said they had handed over gold and silver items to Champat Rai, but no receipt for them has been received till date.
- In the press conference held in the Ram Temple complex after the meeting, those four items were presented before the media, which Champat Rai was directly accused of stealing. Silver Kakbhushundi, Charan Paduka (footwear), a silver necklace, and Ramcharit Manas adorned with gold were shown to the media. However, it was not disclosed where these items were until now? Why were they not immediately brought forward after the allegations were made?
- Additionally, a register was shown, which contained details of 2,800 items. It was stated that any donor who has doubts can come to Ayodhya and see their donated item.
Govind Dev and interim general secretary Krishna Mohan presented all four items in front of the media.
Sign- 3: After the meeting, Champat Rai wrote a letter to the SIT
- The initial report of the SIT was also presented at the meeting. Champat Rai was not at the meeting, but the report reached him. After reading the report, Champat Rai wrote a letter to the SIT, which was leaked.
- Champat Rai wrote in the letter, “The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) created with the bank for the counting process bears the signatures of Dr. Anil Mishra and Govind Mishra, manager of the State Bank of India’s Ayodhya branch. I was never given any information about this SOP. Whereas all contracts from August 2020 to June 2026 bear my signature.”
- Senior journalist Rajendra Kumar said, “The language of the letter suggests that he is portraying himself as innocent. The responsibility for the counting process was Anil Mishra’s. However, this is Champat Rai’s side. Dr. Mishra’s side has not yet come forward.”
On July 6, Champat Rai wrote this letter to the SIT and requested it to be included in the record.
Sign-4: Champat Rai’s name is not in SIT’s initial report
- Immediately after the meeting, SIT’s initial report was also leaked. This 9-page report contains about 3,000 words. Champat Rai’s name is not mentioned even once in any context in the entire report. Nor is anything said that suggests the theft occurred due to Champat Rai’s negligence.
Sign-5: Champat Rai presented his side after 1 month
- On the evening of July 7, around 5 PM, Champat Rai presented his side of the matter for the first time. A month after the offering theft came to light, he issued a letter saying, “Many have made baseless allegations against me. I will provide my answer to all the points being spread once the final SIT report is released.” Senior journalist Sharat Pradhan says, “This suggests that he is completely confident of getting a clean chit.”
Question 2: Can Dr. Anil Mishra be made an accused?
Answer: Yes, there are five indications for this as well.
Indication- 1: The Trust considered Anil Mishra a suspect
- In the trust meeting, Treasurer Govind Dev sought the opinion of all members on the roles of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao based on the SIT report. Everyone unanimously declared Champat Rai honest, while the roles of Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao were deemed suspicious.
Indication- 2: Treasurer said – Hidden culprits should be caught
- In the press conference after the meeting, Govind Dev said – The matter of action is the responsibility of the administration. We also demand that the culprits be caught, including those associates who are perhaps still hidden. Senior journalist Sharat Pradhan says that this can be linked to Anil Mishra.
Indication- 3: Serious allegations against Anil Mishra in SIT report
- Serious allegations have been made against Anil Mishra in the preliminary report of the SIT. On page number 6 of the report, it is written – Dr. Anil Mishra was overseeing financial matters and the management of offerings. He was also informed about the fact that the counting staff were not searched. Despite this, he did not take any concrete steps. He did not fulfill his responsibility properly, which led to the incident of theft/embezzlement.
The SIT report was leaked on social media after the trust meeting on July 6.
Indication- 4: Allegation of taking 40% commission
- Ram Temple’s former engineer, Dinanath Verma, accused Anil Mishra of taking a 40 per cent commission on construction materials in an interview on social media on June 17. He said, “Dr. Mishra got some aluminum work done in the temple by one of his men, but its bill came out one and a half times higher. When I asked the worker about this, he told me that Mishra ji had to be given a 40 per cent commission.”
- The SIT had called Dinanath Verma on June 19 to record his statement. Verma had sought security, citing a threat to his life. Whether he appeared before the SIT after that or not, this information has not yet come to light.
Hint- 5: No member of the trust is with Anil Mishra
- Ram Mandir Trust, VHP, and many other groups are speaking in favour of Champat Rai, but no statement has been given so far declaring Anil Mishra innocent. Treasurer Govind Dev also went to meet Champat Rai on July 8. Whereas no member of the trust met Anil Mishra.
Govind Dev reached to meet Champat Rai around 7 AM on July 8. The meeting lasted for about 2 hours.
Question 3: What are the allegations against Anil Mishra as per SIT’s preliminary report?
Answer: According to SIT’s preliminary report, Anil Mishra could be charged under sections 61 and 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Under the relevant sections, this could lead to a sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
A separate FIR will not be registered to make him an accused. If the SIT recommends making Anil Mishra an accused in its final report, his name will be added to the existing FIR (registered on 25 June). Upon completion of the police investigation, his name will be directly included in the chargesheet based on the evidence found against Mishra.
Question 4: Will Champat Rai not be made an accused?
Answer: This cannot be said definitively. The SIT is investigating several allegations, including land purchase. There are several aspects in which Champat Rai could still be implicated
- Champat Rai is accused of buying land for the Ram Temple at a price nearly 17 times higher than the circle rate. Many lands were Nazul and registered in the name of temples, which could not be bought or sold.
- Keys to the donation boxes were found with Champat Rai’s associate, Tinnu. It is alleged that Tinnu became very powerful under Champat’s patronage. Tinnu had employed his nephew Manish in the work of counting offerings.
- Amidst the controversy over the theft of offerings, Yogi Adityanath visited Ayodhya on June 19. Champat Rai was given written instructions not to come himself to facilitate the CM’s darshan at the Ram Temple, but to nominate his representative.
- Mahipal Singh, former accountant of Ram Mandir, alleged that thefts have been occurring in the temple since 2020-21. He informed Gopal Rao and Champat Rai about this. After this, Mahipal was removed from the temple.
- The SIT’s preliminary report states, “The internal audit conducted from 2022-23 to 2025-26 recommended securing 180 days of CCTV footage, but only 45 days of footage were kept. Trust officials ignored this.” Senior journalist Rajendra Kumar said, “Champat Rai, as general secretary, was the supreme authority of the Trust. In this regard, he bears full responsibility.”
Question 5: If a clean chit is given, can Champat Rai return to the temple trust?
Answer: If this happens, it would not be surprising. Senior journalist Sharat Pradhan explains that this possibility seems to be gaining strength due to three reasons:
- After the press conference, the treasurer of the trust said Champat Rai resigned only on moral grounds.
- Trustee Krishna Mohan has been made ‘interim general secretary’. He will work only until a new general secretary is appointed.
- The appointment of the general secretary is in the hands of the trust. So far, statements from VHP or trust officials make it clear that everyone is with Champat Rai. The trust was also against his resignation. This indicates that Champat Rai may be re-appointed as general secretary after receiving a clean chit.
