Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have received a clean chit from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating alleged irregularities in Ayodhya Ram Temple donations. The development marks a significant twist in the case, which had triggered controversy over the management of temple funds.
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has forwarded the SIT’s final report to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action. According to people familiar with the findings, neither Rai nor Mishra has been named in the final report, indicating that the investigation did not establish their involvement in the alleged donation theft.
SIT report brings major relief to former Ram Temple officials
Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had stepped down from their respective positions on June 27 after allegations surrounding the handling of donations at the Ayodhya temple triggered a major controversy. Both officials were subsequently questioned by investigators as part of the probe into the temple’s donation-management system.
The latest SIT findings now provide significant relief to the two former officials. The final report reportedly focuses on eight accused individuals who had already been arrested in connection with the case. Rai and Mishra do not figure among those named in the report.
The development marks a sharp shift in a case that had generated intense political and public attention because it involved donations made to one of India’s most prominent religious institutions.
How the Ram Temple donation controversy erupted
The controversy surfaced in June after allegations were made that large amounts of money donated by devotees at the Ram Temple had been siphoned off. Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey had alleged that donations worth several crores of rupees were misappropriated.
Following the allegations, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust sought a detailed investigation. The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently constituted an SIT on June 13 to examine the allegations and determine whether there had been theft or irregularities in the handling of temple donations.
The investigation examined multiple stages of the donation-management process, including the collection of offerings, counting of cash, storage arrangements, accounting procedures, access control and CCTV surveillance.
Preliminary probe had flagged serious cash-handling lapses
The initial SIT investigation had detected significant irregularities in the management of cash at the temple. According to the preliminary findings, cash thefts were allegedly detected on around 70 occasions in the counting room between April 27 and June 5, 2026.
CCTV footage reportedly showed employees repeatedly concealing and taking away cash. Investigators also pointed to violations of standard operating procedures followed jointly by the temple trust and the State Bank of India. These included inadequate frisking of personnel entering and leaving sensitive areas.
The findings intensified scrutiny of the temple’s internal financial controls and raised questions over how cash donations were being handled and monitored.
Eight accused arrested in the case
The case was registered at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station on the basis of a complaint filed by Trust member Krishna Mohan.
Eight people named in the FIR were subsequently arrested. They include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu. According to the latest reports, these accused remain central to the criminal investigation.
The final SIT report’s focus on the arrested accused, while leaving out Rai and Mishra, is therefore a significant development in the case.
Rai had denied involvement in donation theft
During questioning, Champat Rai reportedly denied having any role in the alleged theft. Sources cited in reports said Rai maintained that he had acted after becoming aware of suspected wrongdoing and that action had been taken on the basis of a complaint associated with the trust.
Rai had also stated that ensuring transparency in donation collection was part of his responsibilities. His resignation amid the controversy had nevertheless added to the political and public debate surrounding the temple’s financial management.
Mishra, who was also questioned by investigators, likewise stepped down amid the controversy.
Trust to decide next course of action
With the Uttar Pradesh Home Department forwarding the final SIT report to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the responsibility now shifts to the temple management to examine the findings and determine the next course of action.
The case has also attracted judicial attention. The Supreme Court has asked the SIT to submit a status report and directed that the investigation be taken to its logical conclusion, underscoring the importance of establishing accountability in a matter involving donations to the Ram Temple.
A major twist in Ayodhya donation case
The clean chit to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra represents one of the most important developments since the allegations first emerged. While the investigation continues against those accused of directly handling or allegedly misappropriating temple funds, the final report has not attributed criminal involvement to the two former Trust officials.
The findings are likely to influence the next phase of the controversy, particularly discussions surrounding accountability, financial safeguards and the management of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
For now, the SIT report has drawn a clear distinction between the former senior Trust officials and the eight accused who have been arrested in the alleged donation theft case. The Trust’s response to the final report will determine how the matter progresses from here.
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