Champat Rai Questioned In Ram Temple Donation Theft Case; Nearly 140 People To Be Examined

In the ongoing investigation in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case, with the police recording the statement of ex Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. Police sources said Champat Rai has already appeared before investigators and his statement has been officially recorded.

The statements of former trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao are yet to be recorded. Officials said both are likely to be questioned soon as investigators continue collecting evidence.

According to sources, the questioning is being carried out in a manner similar to the earlier interrogation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Investigators believe the statements will help verify facts and establish the sequence of events linked to the alleged misappropriation of temple donations.

Nearly 140 People Likely to Be Questioned

The investigation is not limited to members of the temple trust. Police are expected to record statements from a wide range of people associated with the donation management system.

These include individuals involved in counting donations, staff responsible for transporting cash to banks, bank officials who handled the deposits, and security personnel deployed during the donation counting process.

Officials said questioning such a large number of people is expected to help investigators trace the movement of funds and identify any gaps in the donation handling process.

Raids Conducted at 10 Locations

The latest development comes a day after Ayodhya Police carried out raids at 10 different locations linked to the case.

According to sources, the search operation continued for nearly six to eight hours. During the raids, family members of several accused persons were also detained for questioning.
Investigators are examining their possible role while collecting further evidence related to the alleged embezzlement.

Cash, Jewellery and Property Documents Seized

Sources said police recovered cash, jewellery, bank passbooks, property registration documents, agreement papers and jewellery purchase bills during the searches.
The investigation has also uncovered details of several recently acquired properties allegedly linked to the accused.

According to preliminary findings, some of these properties were reportedly purchased in the names of family members. Police are now examining financial records to determine whether the alleged stolen donation money was used to acquire these assets.
Officials said the seized documents are being analysed to establish the financial trail and identify everyone involved in the alleged irregularities.

What Is the Ram Temple Donation Theft Case?

The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has become one of the most closely watched financial investigations involving a religious institution.
Earlier, an SIT probe found several lapses in the temple's donation management system. So far, eight people associated with the counting of cash and valuables have been arrested in connection with the case.

While investigators are still trying to determine the exact amount of money allegedly siphoned off and the complete method used, the preliminary SIT findings pointed to serious procedural violations.

SOP Violations Under Investigation

According to sources, the SIT found that several Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) meant to safeguard temple donations were allegedly not followed.

These include the absence of mandatory security personnel during the counting process, failure to properly frisk staff entering and leaving the counting room, and not preserving CCTV footage of donation counting for the required 180 days.