'Committed to ensuring fair probe': Ram Mandir Trust confirms Champat Rai's resignation

NEW DELHI: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday said that it has received the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.In its first public statement, the trust said that it is committed to ensuring a fair investigation and restoring the confidence of devotees."We are shocked, deeply hurt, and extremely saddened by the incidents that have come to light in recent days at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. As representatives of all Ram devotees and Ram sevaks serving here, we are committed to ensuring a fair investigation and restoring the confidence of devotees," the statement reads."The trust has received the resignations of Shri Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and trustee Shri Anil Mishra. The trust will consider these resignations at its next meeting," it added.The trust also said that the donations made by devotees are "safe and fully accounted for.""The trust assures devotees who had personally handed over silver bricks, jewellery, and other offerings to its officials for the service of Lord Ram that these items are safe and fully accounted for," the statement said."Regarding the alleged embezzlement of money from the temple's donation boxes, the trust has registered an FIR based on the interim report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government at the trust's request. Legal proceedings are under way," it added.This comes a day after Champat Rai resigned as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on moral grounds amid the ongoing row.The Uttar Pradesh government recently ordered a probe after allegations surfaced that devotees' offerings had been misappropriated.On Thursday, eight people named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations were arrested. All eight were associated with the process of counting cash and valuables received as donations at the temple.The FIR was registered on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, following recommendations made in the preliminary report of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.