The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged donation theft at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has intensified its investigation, interrogating former senior officials of the temple trust on Monday. This development follows the high-profile resignations of key trust members amid an estimated shortfall of ₹7 to ₹7.5 crore in temple funds.
1. Key Interrogations & Trust Resignations
This marks the first time formal statements have been recorded from the top leadership since the police registered a First Information Report (FIR).
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Champat Rai: The former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust—the independent body managing the shrine—was grilled by investigators for over two hours.
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Anil Mishra: The former trustee also underwent questioning by the SIT alongside Rai.
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The Catalyst: Both officials tendered their resignations on June 27, 2026, following a stringent stance taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath upon reviewing a preliminary SIT report.
Champat Rai’s Defense: Sources indicate that during his interrogation, Rai vehemently denied any personal involvement in the embezzlement. He asserted that it was his responsibility to prevent irregularities, claiming he acted immediately upon discovering the wrongdoing and that the initial arrests were made based on his formal complaint.
2. Scope of the Investigation & The Modus Operandi
The SIT’s questioning focused heavily on mapping the loopholes in the temple’s financial management. Investigators demanded a step-by-step breakdown of the donation pipeline:
The Accused and CCTV Evidence
The FIR names eight individuals who have already been arrested after reportedly being caught embezzling funds on security camera footage. The arrested individuals include six temple staff members tasked with handling cash:
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Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramshankar Yadav (alias Tinnu).
3. Financial Context & Footfall Scale
The financial scale of the Ayodhya shrine has grown exponentially since its inauguration in January 2024, making tight fiscal monitoring highly complex.
