Allegations and Political Reactions
On June 5, allegations of embezzlement surfaced on social media regarding the management of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Two days later, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav amplified these claims on his social media account, calling for court intervention. He stated, "The sanctity of the temple must be protected from such corruption."
Trust Denies, BJP Seeks Probe
Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai refuted all allegations on June 8, dismissing them as baseless. However, on June 9, senior BJP leader Rajnish Singh wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a probe by central agencies. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) subsequently sought a report from the Trust on June 10.
Accountant's Video and SIT Formation
On June 11, a video surfaced on social media featuring former Trust accountant Mahipal Singh, who purportedly alleged theft of cash donations. In response, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 to probe the allegations. The SIT began its inquiry on June 15, questioning several Trust employees involved in counting cash.
SIT Interim Report and FIRs
On June 23, the SIT submitted a 150-page interim report, which found large-scale procedural violations in the management of donations. Two days later, an FIR was lodged against nine individuals, including named suspects, and eight were arrested. The report highlighted discrepancies in cash handling and record-keeping.
Resignations and Legal Fallout
Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra resigned on June 26. Rai was quizzed by the SIT on June 29, where he denied any role in the fund theft. That same day, Ayodhya lawyers decided not to represent the accused and demanded that Rai and Mishra leave Ayodhya within three days. On July 6, the Ram Temple Trust accepted their resignations, appointing Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary.
