The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations returned to Ayodhya on Thursday and spent nearly six hours questioning three senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust functionaries—Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. The fresh round of questioning came as Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya publicly backed Rai, while indications emerged that the investigation could soon lead to more arrests.
In a parallel development, the Ayodhya police secured the first police custody remand in the case. Additional District Judge (Anti-Corruption) Rajat Varma granted a 24-hour police custody remand of accused Avinash Shukla, from whose residence police had recovered ₹20.40 lakh in cash earlier this month.
People familiar with the investigation said the remand was sought by the Ayodhya police at the request of the SIT. They added that information gathered during Shukla's custodial interrogation could result in additional arrests.
Separately, Rai, who stepped down as general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust last week after allegations of irregularities in the temple's donation collections surfaced, reportedly told close associates that his work in Ayodhya had come to an end and that he would not carry this “stigma” with him. According to people familiar with the matter, Rai, who is currently in seclusion, also said that his trust had been “betrayed”.
The future roles of Rai and trust member Anil Mishra, both of whom resigned from their positions last week, are expected to be discussed at a trust meeting scheduled in Ayodhya on Monday. The meeting is also likely to examine broader issues related to the trust's administration, particularly in view of the SIT's recommendations.
Eight people have so far been arrested in connection with the case. They are Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav 'Tinnu', Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, Rama Shankar Mishra and Karunesh Pandey. Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra are related to each other and are also related to trust member Anil Mishra, who resigned alongside Champat Rai. Ram Shankar Yadav, an aide of Rai, is related to Manish Yadav.
Last week, police recovered ₹79,85,493 from the eight accused, with cash allegedly found concealed in bathrooms and inside cow dung cakes.
Speaking in Prayagraj, Maurya defended Rai, marking the first occasion on which a senior Uttar Pradesh minister publicly commented on a trust office-bearer since the controversy erupted last month.
“There is no need to comment while the investigation is underway. The incident that took place is being investigated by the SIT, and the police have also registered an FIR and are conducting a probe. We should wait for the outcome of the investigation. However, the Opposition has no moral right to speak on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi issue,” he said, according to news agency IANS.
“Those who worked with immense dedication for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, including Champat Rai ji and everyone involved in the temple movement, have been deeply pained by this incident. But the way this issue is being turned into a major public controversy is unnecessary,” he added.
Officials said the SIT reached the Ram Temple complex at around 2.30 pm and began questioning Rai, Mishra and Rao, with the exercise continuing for nearly six hours. The visit marked the start of the team's extended investigation after the Uttar Pradesh government granted it until July 15 to complete the probe.
The SIT had previously questioned Rai for nearly three hours on Sunday. During Thursday's session, investigators revisited multiple aspects of the temple's donation management process and sought detailed clarifications from the trust functionaries regarding the administrative structure overseeing cash collection, counting and banking operations, officials said.
Investigators also examined the overall fund management mechanism, including the hiring of outsourced personnel engaged in cash-counting work, the memorandum of understanding signed with the State Bank of India (SBI) for cash management, and the supervisory responsibilities assigned to various stakeholders, officials added.
The three-member SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police (Lucknow Range) Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. Senior officials said the panel is expected to submit its final report to the Uttar Pradesh government by July 15, and its findings could determine whether the criminal investigation is expanded to include additional individuals or agencies.
The controversy first came to light on June 7 after Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey alleged that donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore had been siphoned off from temple offerings.
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on June 13. Investigators have since said the preliminary inquiry pointed to a systematic diversion of cash during the collection and counting process. According to the SIT, part of the donations was allegedly siphoned off before being deposited into the temple's designated bank account, leading to the arrest of eight employees involved in handling and counting donations on June 26.
Last month, police registered a first information report against eight named accused and other unidentified persons under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), covering offences including criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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