Champat Rai trusted wrong people, they betrayed him: Trust treasurer

Ayodhya: Terming the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple as “truth under investigation”, treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Govind Dev Giri on Monday said former general secretary Champat Rai placed his faith in the wrong people who “betrayed his trust”.Responding to queries during a news conference after the Trust meeting, Govind Dev Giri said, “The trustees did not betray the Trust. This betrayal happened because Champat Rai, whom we consider a highly respected person, trusted the wrong people. He kept such people close to him for many years, and they betrayed the Trust.”His remarks came after the Ram Temple Trust accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra on Monday.Asked if the theft indeed took place, he said, “Theft happened. That is the truth. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the case, and facts will emerge in its report.”“SIT has submitted an interim report. Once the final report comes, whatever the SIT, the govt or the court decides should be implemented. Whoever is found guilty must be punished,” he said.“Those who have resigned are no longer members of the Trust.

As of today, there is no such proposal regarding their return after the investigation,” he said.“There will certainly be fundamental changes in the donation counting process. Gopal Rao, who earlier attended Trust meetings as an invitee, would no longer be associated with the process,” Giri said.Responding to questions about his own accountability as treasurer, he clarified that his responsibility was for the money that reached the accounts.

“What did not reach the accounts was the responsibility of other people,” he said.He acknowledged media reports suggesting transactions outside the accounting system but said he had no knowledge of such activities.“I have seen these reports in the media. It may have happened, I am not denying that possibility, but I had no information about it,” he maintained.“I monitor the accounts through a team of chartered accountants based in Pune.

Since I do not stay here, my chartered accountants visit Ayodhya for five days every month, examine all the accounts and report back to me. We work through delegation,” Giri said.He also rejected allegations that valuable offerings made to the temple had gone missing. He said the Trust displayed before the media the five items that becamethe subject of public discussion, including a gold Ramcharitmanas, a garland offered to Lord Ram, Kag Bhushundi Maharaj’s offering and sacred ‘padukas’.“We placed the register of 2,800 donated items before the media. All the articles are available, and authorised people may inspect them. We displayed the items to address the concerns that wereraised,” he said.Responding to reports questioning his personal assets, Giri said, “I do not own any property. There is not even a brick or a small piece of land in my name. I have only one bank account and nothing else.”He reiterated that the Trust would cooperate fully with the investigation and implement whatever action is recommended once the SIT completes its probe.