Ram Mandir donation theft: Trust to issue show-cause notice to Champat Rai

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to issue show-cause notices to its General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, who resigned after the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case surfaced, at its crucial meeting on July 6 as the probe gathers pace, sources said.

According to Trust sources, both office-bearers will be asked to submit written and oral explanations over the donation irregularities before any decision is taken on their future.

Under the Trust's bylaws, no disciplinary action, including acceptance of resignation or removal from office, can be initiated without first seeking an explanation from the concerned office-bearer. Any such decision would require the prescribed majority of trustees.

The development comes as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the theft of temple donations, revisited Ayodhya and questioned Rai, Mishra and temple official Gopal Rao for nearly four hours.

Unlike the previous round, the three were questioned together in an attempt to reconstruct the sequence of events, understand how the donation irregularities continued over a period of time and ascertain their respective roles, sources said.

Investigators also seized documents related to the audit of donations and sought complete audit records and financial accounts for the past five years. According to sources, several questions remained unanswered to the investigators' satisfaction, prompting the SIT to widen the scope of its probe.

Police also inspected the entire process of removing and counting cash from donation boxes at the Ram Mandir complex and seized CCTV footage as part of the investigation.

Sources said Rai, who has reportedly resigned along with Mishra, has indicated to close associates that he would not continue under the "stigma" of the controversy, adding that his "service in Ayodhya is complete".

However, neither Rai nor Mishra has been named in the FIR registered in the case.

The Trust meeting is also expected to discuss the SIT's recommendations submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government last month. Trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is unlikely to attend in person as he remains hospitalised.

Meanwhile, the investigation has continued to expand. Police have questioned temple officials, employees, private security personnel and staff involved in counting donations, while the role of bank employees is also under scrutiny.

Investigators have also taken the assistance of a chartered accountant to examine the financial records.

The donation theft case came to light on June 7, following which an SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government. An FIR was registered on June 25 against eight persons associated with the counting and handling of temple donations.

Police have so far arrested all eight accused and recovered cash, gold, silver and foreign currency during the investigation. The probe remains ongoing.

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