Lucknow, June 27 -- Allegations of irregularities in the collection of donations to the Ram Temple snowballed into a major controversy on Friday after the arrest of eight men connected to the temple management, the recovery of nearly Rs.80 lakh from their homes and the resignation of two prominent members of the temple trust. The dramatic developments came a day after the Uttar Pradesh Police lodged a first information report (FIR) on a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in connection with the allegations, naming an aide of the trust's general secretary Champat Rai and seven others. Rai and prominent trust member Anil Mishra resigned on Friday, said people aware of the matter. There was no official confirmation of the resignations at the time of going to print. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it has no knowledge of its vice president Champat Rai's resignation. Neither Rai nor Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram temple construction committee, was available for comment. According to one of the persons aware of the details, Rai wrote to trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and said he was stepping down to "ensure a free and fair probe" and to "protect the sanctity" of Lord Ram, while denying any wrongdoing and assuming "moral responsibility". The resignations followed chief minister Yogi Adityanath's announcement that action had begun after the submission of a Special Investigation Team's preliminary report on the alleged irregularities. Adityanath attacked the Opposition, saying action was initiated immediately after the SIT submitted its report. "I had stated that action would be taken once the SIT report arrived. The report is in, and action has commenced. During my visit to Ayodhya on June 19, I said the truth would come out. The government will not tolerate messing with the faith," he said.More on P10...