The investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case has gathered momentum, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioning former Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai for nearly three hours. During the marathon interrogation, investigators reportedly sought answers on the temple's administrative functioning, donation management, employee appointments, and the handling of complaints related to the alleged irregularities.
According to sources, Rai was asked several crucial questions regarding the trust's internal processes and his role in overseeing the temple's offering system. Investigators are said to have found some of his responses unsatisfactory, and he may be summoned again if further clarification is required.
Sources said the police will now compare Champat Rai's statement with testimonies of other witnesses, documentary evidence, and findings already gathered during the investigation. The SIT's preliminary report has prompted the police to expand the scope of the probe.
The SIT is expected to visit Ayodhya during the first week of July to conclude its investigation before submitting its final report to the government.
During questioning, Champat Rai denied having any role in the alleged donation theft. He maintained that he acted immediately after learning about the matter by identifying the suspects and filing a First Information Report (FIR).
"I personally approached the SIT, and the case was registered based on my complaint. Yes, it was my mistake that I delayed filing the police complaint while conducting an internal inquiry into the matter," Rai reportedly told investigators.
At the same time, he admitted that ensuring transparency in the temple's donation system was part of his administrative responsibility and acknowledged that the alleged irregularities had occurred under his watch.
A significant part of the interrogation reportedly focused on the appointment process of individuals associated with the Ram Temple's operations.
Investigators questioned Rai about the basis on which relatives or acquaintances were entrusted with temple-related work. In response, he said appointments were primarily made to provide employment to poor and needy individuals and that recruitment decisions were not taken by him alone but involved other members of the trust as well.
Rai also referred to the recommendations of trust members Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao during the hiring process. According to him, the objective was to help economically weaker individuals, and no one anticipated that such appointments would eventually lead to alleged financial irregularities.
Responding to questions about key accused Tinnu Yadav, Champat Rai said the latter had been associated with the temple administration for a long time.
"Tinnu did something wrong, and this was not expected," Rai reportedly told investigators, distancing himself from the alleged actions of the accused while expressing disappointment over the incident.
As part of the widening investigation, police are reportedly collecting financial information related to several trust members, including Champat Rai, Gopal Rai, and Anil Mishra.
According to reports, investigators are examining bank accounts, property records, and other financial transactions to determine whether any monetary irregularities are linked to the alleged donation theft. Sources further claim that investigators believe administrative negligence may have contributed to the incident.
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