Ayodhya Ram temple donation case: SIT clears Champat Rai, Anil Mishra of alleged irregularities

The Special Investigation Team SIT probing alleged theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has given a clean chit to former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra according to reportsThe Uttar Pradesh Home Department on Monday submitted the SITs final report in the case to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action according to NDTVRai and Mishra had stepped down from their respective positions on June 27 after allegations of irregularities in the handling of temple donations emerged Both were subsequently questioned by the SIT as part of its investigation into the collection and management of donationsSIT clears Rai and MishraAccording to sources cited in the IANS report Rai denied any involvement in the alleged irregularities during questioning by investigatorsHe reportedly told the SIT that he had himself lodged a complaint over the suspected theft following which the accused persons were arrestedRai also maintained that ensuring transparency in the collection of donations and preventing irregularities were among his responsibilities He reportedly told investigators that he had taken action after becoming aware of the alleged wrongdoingThe SITs final findings have now cleared Rai and Mishra of involvement in the alleged donation theft according to the report submitted to the state governmentThreemember SIT formed in JuneThe Uttar Pradesh government constituted the threemember SIT on June 13 following a request from the temple trustThe panel was formed before the Supreme Court subsequently intervened in the matterLucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant headed the investigation team Inspector General of Police Range Kiran S and Special Secretary Finance Neel Ratan Kumar were the other members of the panelThe SIT was tasked with examining allegations concerning the handling of donations and determining the circumstances surrounding the suspected irregularitiesPreliminary report led to FIRThe SIT submitted its preliminary findings to the state government on June 23 The report contained several recommendations and subsequently led to further action in the caseBased on the preliminary findings Trust member Krishnamohan submitted a written complaint at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police stationAn FIR was registered on June 25 naming eight people and other unidentified individuals as accusedThe FIR named Avinash Shukla Anukalp Mishra Lavkush Mishra Manish Kumar Yadav Karunesh Pandey Ramashankar Mishra Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav alias TinnuEight named accused arrestedAll eight named accused have been arrested according to the information available in the caseThey have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and Section 131a of the Prevention of Corruption ActThe arrests followed the preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities in the collection and handling of donations associated with the templeThe preliminary SIT report had served as the basis for subsequent FIRs and arrests linked to the alleged donationrelated irregularitiesTrust members questioned during investigationRai and Mishra were among the Trust members questioned as investigators examined the allegations and the systems used to manage donationsBoth had stepped down from their respective positions on June 27 following the emergence of allegations concerning the handling of temple donationsRais reported statement to investigators that he had initiated action after becoming aware of the alleged theft was also considered during the inquiryThe final SIT report has now been submitted to the Uttar Pradesh Home Department and forwarded to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further actionInvestigation continues against accusedWhile Rai and Mishra have received a clean chit from the SIT the criminal proceedings against the eight accused named in the FIR remain separate from the findings concerning the former Trust officebearersThe accused have already been arrested and face charges under the relevant provisions of the BNS and the Prevention of Corruption ActThe case centres on allegations of theft and irregularities linked to temple donations The preliminary investigation resulted in an FIR and arrests while the final SIT report has now clarified the position of Rai and Mishra according to the reportWith inputs from IANS