Ram Temple donation row: Champat Rai breaks silence, questions role of Anil Mishra
In his first response to the SIT after stepping down, Champat Rai has questioned the bank's role in the Ram Temple cash-counting process and alleged that mandatory security protocols were ignored.
Days after resigning as the General Secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai has broken his silence for the first time, responding to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged cash-counting irregularities at the Ram Temple Trust. In his written response, the former general secretary distanced himself from a key document governing the counting process and levelled serious allegations against Trust Treasurer Anil Mishra and the bank involved in the exercise.
In his statement, Rai said he disagreed with the 'joint guidelines for the counting process' dated February 6, 2025, claiming the document did not bear his signature despite allegedly carrying the signatures of Dr Anil Mishra and the then State Bank of India Ayodhya branch chief manager, Govind Mishra.
Rai said he became aware of the document only on June 13, 2026, after obtaining all counting-related records from the Trust's accounts office. He maintained that every agreement executed between August 2020 and June 2026 carried his signature, but this particular document did not. "Had I not been present in Ayodhya, the document should have waited for my approval," he said, alleging that the agreement with the bank was executed without his knowledge.
The former Trust general secretary also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the bank on February 9, 2024, saying every page of that agreement bore his signature. According to Rai, the MoU mandated strict security measures, including CCTV surveillance in the counting room and iron-grilled doors, but these safeguards were allegedly not implemented.
He further alleged that the bank failed to follow standard cash-handling protocols. According to Rai, counting staff were not provided pocketless uniforms, mandatory frisking procedures were not enforced, and other prescribed security norms were ignored despite being mentioned in the guidelines.
Rai also questioned the bank's decision to deploy housekeeping staff for the cash-counting exercise, calling the arrangement inappropriate. He suggested that either senior bank officials were unaware of the prescribed procedures or the rules were deliberately overlooked. He has also sought an explanation from the bank's senior officials over the alleged lapses.
FALSE ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST ME: CHAMPAT RAI'S HANDWRITTEN LETTER
Alongside his response to the SIT, Champat Rai also released a handwritten letter addressed to Ram devotees, claiming that false allegations had been levelled against him ever since the alleged theft during the counting of temple donations came to light.
In the letter, Rai said the SIT's preliminary report had already been submitted to the competent authority and made public. He questioned why he would have sought publication of the SIT's final report if he had any role in the alleged irregularities.
"If I had any role in this incident, would I have requested that the SIT's final report be made public after it is completed so that all the facts come before everyone?" Rai wrote.
Referring to his public life, Rai said he had been living in Ayodhya since 1991 and had devoted the last 45 years to the Sangh organisation. "Wherever I have been, my life has always remained like an open book before everyone," he wrote, asserting that the allegations against him were baseless.
COURT GRANTS 40-HOUR POLICE CUSTODY OF THREE ACCUSED
Meanwhile, an Ayodhya court has granted 40-hour police custody of the three accused— Lav Kush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Karunesh Pandey — in connection with the alleged cash-counting irregularities.
The three accused will remain in police custody for 40 hours and will be questioned by the investigating officer from 10 am on Wednesday. During the custodial interrogation, the SIT will take them to their respective locations to carry out recoveries and verify evidence linked to the case.
Investigators are also expected to question Anukalp Mishra over his recently purchased house and vehicle. Searches and recoveries related to these assets are likely to be conducted as part of the probe. The custodial interrogation is expected to focus on the alleged cash-counting process, financial transactions and the recovery of crucial evidence as the SIT continues its investigation.
Days after resigning as the General Secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai has broken his silence for the first time, responding to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged cash-counting irregularities at the Ram Temple Trust. In his written response, the former general secretary distanced himself from a key document governing the counting process and levelled serious allegations against Trust Treasurer Anil Mishra and the bank involved in the exercise.
In his statement, Rai said he disagreed with the 'joint guidelines for the counting process' dated February 6, 2025, claiming the document did not bear his signature despite allegedly carrying the signatures of Dr Anil Mishra and the then State Bank of India Ayodhya branch chief manager, Govind Mishra.
Rai said he became aware of the document only on June 13, 2026, after obtaining all counting-related records from the Trust's accounts office. He maintained that every agreement executed between August 2020 and June 2026 carried his signature, but this particular document did not. "Had I not been present in Ayodhya, the document should have waited for my approval," he said, alleging that the agreement with the bank was executed without his knowledge.
The former Trust general secretary also referred to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the bank on February 9, 2024, saying every page of that agreement bore his signature. According to Rai, the MoU mandated strict security measures, including CCTV surveillance in the counting room and iron-grilled doors, but these safeguards were allegedly not implemented.
He further alleged that the bank failed to follow standard cash-handling protocols. According to Rai, counting staff were not provided pocketless uniforms, mandatory frisking procedures were not enforced, and other prescribed security norms were ignored despite being mentioned in the guidelines.
Rai also questioned the bank's decision to deploy housekeeping staff for the cash-counting exercise, calling the arrangement inappropriate. He suggested that either senior bank officials were unaware of the prescribed procedures or the rules were deliberately overlooked. He has also sought an explanation from the bank's senior officials over the alleged lapses.
FALSE ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST ME: CHAMPAT RAI'S HANDWRITTEN LETTER
Alongside his response to the SIT, Champat Rai also released a handwritten letter addressed to Ram devotees, claiming that false allegations had been levelled against him ever since the alleged theft during the counting of temple donations came to light.
In the letter, Rai said the SIT's preliminary report had already been submitted to the competent authority and made public. He questioned why he would have sought publication of the SIT's final report if he had any role in the alleged irregularities.
"If I had any role in this incident, would I have requested that the SIT's final report be made public after it is completed so that all the facts come before everyone?" Rai wrote.
Referring to his public life, Rai said he had been living in Ayodhya since 1991 and had devoted the last 45 years to the Sangh organisation. "Wherever I have been, my life has always remained like an open book before everyone," he wrote, asserting that the allegations against him were baseless.
COURT GRANTS 40-HOUR POLICE CUSTODY OF THREE ACCUSED
Meanwhile, an Ayodhya court has granted 40-hour police custody of the three accused— Lav Kush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra and Karunesh Pandey — in connection with the alleged cash-counting irregularities.
The three accused will remain in police custody for 40 hours and will be questioned by the investigating officer from 10 am on Wednesday. During the custodial interrogation, the SIT will take them to their respective locations to carry out recoveries and verify evidence linked to the case.
Investigators are also expected to question Anukalp Mishra over his recently purchased house and vehicle. Searches and recoveries related to these assets are likely to be conducted as part of the probe. The custodial interrogation is expected to focus on the alleged cash-counting process, financial transactions and the recovery of crucial evidence as the SIT continues its investigation.
