Daijiworld Media Network – Ayodhya
Ayodhya, Jun 26: Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust chief Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their positions on Friday amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The resignations came a day after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eight persons in connection with the alleged misappropriation of devotees' donations. Those arrested include members of the cash-counting staff, the head of the counting operation, a retired banker who supervised the process, and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, a close associate and driver of Champat Rai.
An FIR was registered on June 25 based on the preliminary findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the alleged financial irregularities.
The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to criminal breach of trust, theft, conspiracy and other offences.
The three-member SIT was formed on June 14 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust after allegations surfaced that a portion of the donations offered by devotees had been siphoned off.
Investigators suspect that individuals involved in handling and counting temple offerings diverted funds for personal gain. Among those named in the FIR is the official responsible for supervising cash counting at the temple's pilgrim facilitation centre.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the government's handling of the case and accused opposition parties of attempting to politicise the controversy.
Addressing a public gathering in Deoria, the Chief Minister said his government follows a zero-tolerance policy towards any act that undermines public faith and assured that stringent action would be taken against anyone found guilty of betraying the trust of devotees.
The investigation into the alleged donation scam is continuing, with officials examining financial records and the role of all those connected with the cash collection and counting process.