Ram Temple Trust Recovered Donation Cash Before FIR, Champat Rai Letter Reveals
A letter written by Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has revealed that the trust seized cash allegedly stolen from donation boxes before the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the matter. Sources familiar with the letter confirmed that the recovery occurred prior to the case becoming public, and Rai distanced himself from the trust's responsibilities pending an inquiry into the controversy.
The letter, addressed to the trust's office bearers, stated that the cash was recovered from the accused individuals before the Ayodhya police filed an FIR. According to police officials, nearly Rs 80 lakh has been recovered from the accused so far. The trust manages the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which receives substantial donations from devotees.
Champat Rai, who served as the trust's general secretary, has been a key figure in the temple's construction. In his letter, he claimed that the seizure of cash was made directly by the trust, not by law enforcement, and that he was not involved in the decision-making process that led to the recovery. He also sought to distance himself from any potential wrongdoing, stating that he was not responsible for the trust's actions during the period when the alleged theft occurred.
The controversy erupted after reports surfaced that donation boxes from the Ram Temple had been tampered with, and a significant amount of cash was missing. The Ayodhya police subsequently launched an investigation and arrested several individuals in connection with the theft. However, the trust's proactive recovery of the cash before the FIR has raised questions about the sequence of events and whether the trust attempted to handle the matter internally.
A spokesperson for the trust declined to comment on the letter, citing the ongoing police investigation. However, sources within the trust confirmed the authenticity of the letter and stated that an internal inquiry has been initiated to examine the handling of donations.
The revelation comes at a time when the Ram Temple is expected to open to the public later this year, following its consecration ceremony in January. The trust has been working to ensure transparency in its financial operations, but this incident has highlighted the need for stricter oversight of donation collection and storage.
Legal experts note that while the trust's recovery of stolen property is not illegal, the omission of not immediately reporting the theft to police could raise concerns about due process. The Uttar Pradesh police have assured that all aspects of the case will be thoroughly investigated.
