Ram Temple Trust Official Champat Rai Under Scrutiny Over Donation Allegations

Champat Rai, a 79-year-old RSS pracharak and senior functionary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), has been a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for decades. Working largely behind the scenes, he helped navigate the movement through organisational, legal, and administrative challenges. After the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict, he took charge of the construction and management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Now, over two years after the temple's consecration, Mr. Rai is facing allegations of corruption related to donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. An investigation has brought increased scrutiny to the project he has overseen since its inception. The allegations have shifted Mr. Rai's public role from a low-profile organiser to a figure under accountability measures.

The trust has denied any wrongdoing, stating that all donations are accounted for and used transparently for the temple's construction. The investigation is ongoing, and no formal charges have been filed against Mr. Rai or the trust. The matter has drawn attention to the management of religious funds in India.