Ayodhya police questions Champat Rai for two hours

Lucknow: The investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations gathered pace on Monday as the Ayodhya Police recorded the statement of Champat Rai, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary who has now resigned.Police officials confirmed the development, saying statements of several Trust functionaries and other persons associated with the temple's donation management system were being recorded to piece together the sequence of events and verify the standard operating procedures followed in handling the offerings.According to sources familiar with the investigation, a police team led by a deputy superintendent of police (DySP)-rank officer questioned Rai for more than two hours.

Investigators reportedly sought detailed information on the entire donation management process - from the receipt of cash and valuables offered by devotees, their counting and safe custody, to their eventual deposit in designated bank accounts.Sources said the questioning was aimed at understanding the institutional mechanism governing temple donations, identifying the responsibilities of various officials at different stages of the process, and examining whether any procedural lapses may have created opportunities for the alleged embezzlement.