The local court of Ayodhya has sent all the accused in the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case to judicial custody for 14 days. On the other hand, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra have resigned from the post, taking moral responsibility.
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [भारत]June 29 (ANI): A local court in Ayodhya on Monday sent all the accused in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case to 14-day judicial custody. The court’s decision comes after a thorough investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Police into reports of financial irregularities and misuse of offering funds at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
Meanwhile, families of the accused were seen reaching the jail premises to meet their relatives. Ravi Yadav, son of accused Tinku Yadav and Shani Yadav, brother of accused Manish Yadav, reached Ayodhya District Jail, where the accused are currently lodged.
Resignation of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra
Earlier on Friday, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust general secretary Champat Rai and member trustee Anil Mishra had resigned, taking moral responsibility for the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations. Subsequently, police recorded Rai’s statement here as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of temple donations, sources said on Monday.
Sources revealed that Champat Rai has already been interrogated, while statements of other senior officials of the Trust, including Anil Mishra, will be recorded later if needed during the investigation.
SIT is investigating, many big names in FIR
On Sunday, the investigation into alleged embezzlement in Ram temple donations intensified when a police team reached the residence of one of the accused, Avinash Shukla, in Ayodhya. Earlier, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust) said in an official press statement, “We are shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by the incidents that have unfolded in the last few days in relation to the Shri Ram Temple (Ayodhya). We are committed to ensuring a fair investigation and reassuring the devotees.”
The trust also announced that it has received the resignations of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust) general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. This development has come to light after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed on June 25 in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to officials, the case has been registered on the instructions of the Uttar Pradesh government under several sections of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS), including sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5). Those named in the FIR are: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinku Yadav, Manish Yadav and others.
Political conflict begins
The matter came to light after allegations were made by former SP MLA from Ayodhya Pawan Pandey, who claimed that Rs 7 crore to Rs 7.5 crore of Ram temple donations had been embezzled. Following the allegations, on June 14, the state government, on the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust, constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged scam involving offerings at the Ram temple.
Responding to the matter, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told ANI, “The police administration should conduct a fair investigation and take strict action; the government will ensure this.” The case has sparked a political firestorm in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling BJP and opposition parties accusing each other over the financial management of the temple, while the SIT investigation continues. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)