In a significant development regarding the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, former Member of Parliament Vinay Katiyar has made explosive claims. Katiyar, a prominent figure in the temple movement, has openly admitted that financial irregularities have taken place, while he revealed that he has already discussed this sensitive matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Katiyar, the Prime Minister expressed concern and questioned what the future course of action would be. Katiyar assured the Prime Minister that everything would be resolved, while also suggesting that high-ranking officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust might face legal consequences, including imprisonment.
Potential Arrests of Trust Officials
Vinay Katiyar specifically named Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Trust, along with member Anil Mishra and Assistant Administrator Gopal Rao, as individuals who might be sent to jail in the coming days. He noted that for some reason, Champat Rai has not been arrested yet, but the possibility remains strong as the investigation progresses, while katiyar's statements come at a time when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is actively probing the donation theft case. The SIT recently conducted a joint interrogation of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao within the temple premises to uncover the truth behind the missing funds.
Criticism of Gopal Rao
Katiyar didn't hold back in his criticism of Gopal Rao, the Assistant Administrator who has come under the scanner in the embezzlement case. Describing Rao as an unsuitable person for the position, Katiyar questioned who had appointed him and sent him to Ayodhya. He recounted an incident where Rao allegedly questioned Katiyar's presence in the temple, asking whose permission he had taken to enter, while katiyar stated that he told Rao that he wouldn't be staying there for long and should return to South India, from where he originated. He emphasized that many people have made immense sacrifices for the Ram Mandir, and it's disheartening to see such financial misconduct.
SIT Investigation and Interrogations
The SIT, which was formed on June 13 to investigate the alleged scam, has been working rigorously. The team consists of members who spent 6 days conducting a preliminary investigation before submitting their initial report to the government. Following this, the SIT returned to the temple complex for a second round of questioning, while during this visit, the investigators interrogated Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao both individually and together. While the investigation continues, Champat Rai has maintained that his service in Ayodhya is complete, but he expressed a desire not to leave with a stigma attached to his name, while sources suggest that Rai, who has been in isolation, told close associates that he feels betrayed, though he didn't specify who he was referring to.
Remand of Accused Avinash Shukla
In a parallel development, the police have taken Avinash Shukla, an accused already in custody, into a 24-hour remand for further questioning. Shukla was involved in the counting of offerings at the temple. During the investigation, authorities managed to recover a significant amount of 20 lakh 39 thousand rupees from him. The court granted the 24-hour police remand after he was produced before it. This recovery is seen as a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing donation theft case.
Timeline of the Case
The state government took swift action by forming the SIT on June 13 after the allegations of embezzlement surfaced. The team submitted its preliminary findings on June 23. Just two days later, on June 25, the first FIR was registered in the case. Since then, 8 individuals named in the matter have been arrested. The investigation is now focused on identifying the larger network involved in the theft and ensuring that all those responsible for the misappropriation of sacred funds are brought to justice.