Champat Rai: The RSS pracharak at the centre of the Ram temple donation row

Few individuals have been as closely associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement as Champat Rai. For decades, the 79-year-old worked largely behind the scenes as an RSS pracharak and senior Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary, helping steer the movement through organisational, legal, and administrative challenges, before taking charge of the temple’s construction and management after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict.

Now, barely two-and-a-half years after the Ram temple’s consecration, Mr. Rai finds himself at the centre of controversy, with allegations of corruption with regard to donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJTK) Trust. The investigation has brought unprecedented scrutiny to the project he has overseen since its conception and has transformed Mr. Rai’s own public role from a low-profile organiser to one of the most recognisable faces of the Ram temple project now being brought to account.

Meticulous planning

Born in Nagina in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, Mr. Rai studied chemistry and briefly worked as a lecturer before becoming a full-time Sangh pracharak. He later joined the VHP, becoming one of its most trusted organisers whose contributions were largely used during the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi campaign. Here, he handled organisational coordination, documentation, and liaison with legal, religious and administrative stakeholders, earning a reputation for meticulous planning rather than public visibility.

The Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment, which cleared the way for the construction of the Ram temple, marked a turning point in his career. Appointed as general secretary of the SRJTK Trust, Mr. Rai became the operational head of the temple project, overseeing construction, finances, pilgrim management, and coordination with multiple government agencies.

Greater scrutiny

His public profile grew further during the nationwide donation drive launched in 2021, which mobilised contributions from millions of devotees. Along with the campaign came greater scrutiny. Opposition parties and activists questioned a series of land transactions linked to the trust, alleging irregularities after land prices rose sharply between successive sales.

Mr. Rai emerged as the trust’s principal public defender, repeatedly rejecting allegations of wrongdoing. He maintained that the transactions were lawful, independently valued, and essential for the temple’s long-term expansion. Whenever there is any news linked to the Ram temple, Mr. Rai can be seen all over television and social media.

Unwelcome spotlight

The latest allegations about donations, however, have thrust him into an unwelcome spotlight which he is trying to avoid.

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter and several arrests have been made, but no court has yet held the trust guilty of any wrongdoing. Social media speculation about Mr. Rai’s resignation was also dismissed by VHP office-bearers, and the man himself has not emerged from his self-imposed silence to either confirm or deny the rumours.