Police have questioned Champat Rai in the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case as all eight accused prepare to appear before a special court in Ayodhya. The Uttar Pradesh government has assured an impartial investigation while the SIT continues its probe.
Police recorded the statement of Champat Rai as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. | IANS
Police have recorded the statement of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai as part of the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, even as all eight accused in the case are scheduled to be produced before a special court on Monday.
The investigation has entered a crucial phase with fresh questioning by investigators, court proceedings for the accused and continued scrutiny of the temple trust’s handling of the matter. The Uttar Pradesh government has also reiterated that the probe will be conducted impartially.
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Sources said Champat Rai’s statement was recorded by police during the ongoing investigation. They added that statements of other senior Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust office-bearers, including trustee Anil Mishra, could also be recorded if investigators consider them necessary.
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The latest development comes a day after police visited the residence of Avinash Shukla, one of the accused in the case.
Speaking to the media, Abhishek Shukla, brother of the accused, said the family would not support anyone found guilty of misappropriating temple funds.
In an earlier statement, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said it was “shocked, hurt, and deeply saddened” by the allegations surrounding the temple’s donation management.
The Trust said it had received the resignations of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. It added that the matter would be discussed at its next meeting.
Seeking to reassure devotees, the Trust said all valuables personally offered to Lord Ram, including silver bricks and jewellery, remained safe and fully accounted for.
“The Trust assures those devotees who personally handed over items–such as silver bricks and jewellery–to Trust officials for offering to Lord Ram that these items are safe and fully accounted for,” the statement said.
The Trust also said, “Darkness will eventually give way, and the light of truth will shine. The uninterrupted flow of Lord Shri Ram’s glory will continue forever.”
Meanwhile, all eight accused arrested in the alleged donation embezzlement case are scheduled to be produced before the Special Court for Corruption Act cases in Ayodhya for judicial custody proceedings.
Security has been tightened around the court complex, with additional police personnel deployed inside and outside the premises.
The accused were remanded to judicial custody on Friday and are expected to be sent back to jail after Monday’s proceedings.
The Ayodhya Bar Association is expected to decide whether lawyers from the district will represent the accused.
Kalika Prasad Mishra, President of the Ayodhya Bar Association, said a meeting of the Faizabad Advocates’ Association had been convened to deliberate on the issue.
“A meeting of the Faizabad Advocates’ Association has been called; it will begin at 10:30 AM. Lawyers will deliberate on the ongoing situation whether or not to represent the accused in their defence. I cannot state my own decision right now, nor do I know it yet; the Association’s decision will be paramount,” he said.
He said the decision was likely to favour the temple’s interests and added that the hearing could be conducted virtually from jail.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the state government would ensure a fair investigation into the allegations.
“The government will ensure that the police administration conducts an impartial investigation and takes strict action,” he told ANI.
An FIR was registered on June 25 under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following directions from the Uttar Pradesh government.
According to officials, those named in the case include Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav and others.
The case stems from allegations made by former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey, who claimed that donations worth between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore had been misappropriated from the Ram Mandir.
Following the allegations, the state government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team on June 14 after a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust.
The case has since sparked a political confrontation in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP and Opposition parties trading allegations while the SIT investigation continues.
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