Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Probe Deepens: VHP Chief Says Champat Rai ‘May Be Guilty of Negligence’; SIT Widens Investigation Beyond Arrested Accused
Police Seek Custody of Key Accused Avinash Shukla After ₹20.4 Lakh Recovery; Investigators Probe Bank Officials, Cash Trail and Temple Donation Management
The investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has entered a crucial phase, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) expanding its probe beyond the eight arrested accused. Fresh recoveries, custodial interrogation requests and growing scrutiny of the temple’s financial management have turned the case into one of the most closely watched corruption investigations in recent years.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International President Alok Kumar has acknowledged that former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai “may be guilty of negligence” if supervisory lapses are established, but stressed that no one should be presumed guilty without a complete investigation. He maintained that everyone connected with the Trust, including Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and other officials, should face scrutiny if required. At present, there has been no judicial finding establishing criminal liability against Champat Rai.
Police have now sought custodial remand of key accused Avinash Shukla after recovering approximately ₹20.39 lakh from him—the highest recovery linked to any accused so far. According to investigators, the overall recovery in the case has crossed ₹77 lakh, including cash, gold, silver ornaments, foreign currency and a donation box allegedly connected through a QR-code-based collection system. Authorities believe additional recoveries and financial evidence may still emerge during interrogation.
Investigators have also widened their focus to banking operations. Officials of the State Bank of India are reportedly being questioned to determine whether banking procedures, cash deposits or verification mechanisms showed irregularities that could have facilitated or failed to detect the alleged diversion of temple donations. Police are examining years of account records, transaction histories and deposit patterns to establish whether systemic failures existed.
According to the ongoing investigation, the alleged theft was executed over an extended period using a carefully planned method. Police believe portions of the cash collected from donation boxes were concealed inside a bathroom before being gradually removed in small quantities, reducing the possibility of immediate detection during routine operations. Investigators suspect the money was then taken out in multiple small tranches rather than a single large movement, making the alleged embezzlement difficult to identify for months.
The SIT is also analysing CCTV footage, internal cash-handling procedures, donation counting protocols and records of employees responsible for collection, storage and deposit of offerings. Officials are attempting to determine whether the alleged theft resulted solely from actions of the arrested individuals or whether supervisory failures and institutional weaknesses allowed the alleged embezzlement to continue unchecked.
The controversy has already led to significant administrative consequences. Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations following the registration of the FIR and the launch of the investigation. VHP leadership has clarified that the temple trust functions independently and that the organisation itself requested a comprehensive investigation after irregularities came to light.
Police continue to maintain that the investigation is far from complete. Financial records covering several years, banking transactions, witness statements and forensic examination of donation handling remain under review. Officials have indicated that if evidence points to additional involvement, further arrests or legal action cannot be ruled out. Meanwhile, authorities have reiterated that the objective is to identify every individual responsible for the alleged misuse of devotees’ donations, irrespective of position or status.
