Ayodhya, Aug. 18 -- Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra have been cleared by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft and irregularities in the handling of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has handed over the SIT's final report to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action. The report found no criminal wrongdoing on the part of Rai and Mishra in connection with the alleged donation theft.
Both Rai and Mishra had resigned from their respective positions on June 27, after allegations concerning the handling of temple donations emerged. They were subsequently questioned by investigators as part of the probe. The three-member SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 following a request from the temple trust. It was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with Lucknow Range Inspector General Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar as its other members. The SIT submitted its preliminary report to the state government on June 23, following which a written complaint was filed by trust member Krishnamohan at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station. An FIR was subsequently registered on June 25.
The clean chit to Rai and Mishra does not bring the entire case to an end. A separate investigation into the alleged donation theft and irregularities is continuing, with the criminal proceedings against those accused being pursued independently. The case had led to scrutiny of the temple's systems for collecting, counting and managing donations. Investigators had also examined the roles of officials and other personnel involved in the process. The final SIT report is now with the temple trust, which will consider the findings and take further action in accordance with the report.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.