As the Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged misappropriation of donation funds at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya continues, reports state that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai is also under the radar. The SIT has also found crucial evidence regarding the alleged theft of offerings to the Ram Temple.
According to local media reports, the SIT team has found evidence that suggests irregularities in the donation amount. They suspect some CCTV footage has also been deleted, further deepening the investigation. The team has so far considered both negligence and a possible conspiracy.
While the role of certain Garana workers and bank employees is under suspicion, reports hint that an FIR is likely to be lodged against Tinnu Yadav, aide to Champat Rai. Besides Yadav, the SIT is also probing the alleged role of Trust official Anil Mishra and construction assistant Gopal Rao.
The SIT has questioned about 150 people in six days. The negligence or involvement of 20-25 people of the management, including three officials of the trust, has come to light. 6 employees of SBI and 6 employees of TCS were questioned.
Meanwhile, the controversy has caused a fall in contributions, according to a report that appeared in Dainik Bhaskar. Earlier, donation boxes at the temple used to receive ₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh a day, which has now dwindled to ₹1 lakh a day, the report added.
Following the SIT investigation, the trust has tightened surveillance and strengthened the process of counting donations and depositing them in banks.
Accounts presented at the trust meeting on March 21, 2026, showed that between April 2025 and February 2026, the temple received ₹82 crore in donations. The average worked out to ₹7.45 crore a month and nearly ₹24 lakh a day, the report added.
