Why are big fish being protected?’ Nation questions delay in Ayodhya temple donation case

Despite the forensic examination of CCTV footage from the temple premises had revealed 105 instances of alleged donation theft, against 70 incidents reported in the preliminary probe.

While the matter refers to the stage managed and grabbed faith under the name and title of Ram Janmabhoomi, Hindu faith questioned finds the delay in filing the chargesheet in the alleged donation embezzlement case at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and the nation demands a forensic audit of the temple trust’s financial and management systems.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case should ensure complete transparency and take strict action against those responsible. 

After Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the SIT would file its first chargesheet on or before September 25.

The deadline marks the completion of the statutory 90-day period from the first arrest in the case, after which the accused could become eligible for default bail if the chargesheet is not filed.

A media report states that forensic examination of CCTV footage from the temple premises had revealed 105 instances of alleged donation theft, against 70 incidents reported in the preliminary probe.

It is necessary to play on the lyrics of the 1971 Hindi film song Ram ka naam badnaam na karo to attack the BJP over the alleged theft. Chanda chori, Aastha dhokha. ‘

Dekho o BJP walon, tum ye kaam na karo, ram ka naam badnam na karo, badnam na karo becomes relevant.

The delay in filing the chargesheet had raised questions about whether the “big fish” in the case were being protected. 

The questioned the alleged silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the nation demand to know why the temple trust had not been dissolved.

The question now is not just about the accused, but also about the accountability of those under whose watch this all happened.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, hearing pleas seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of donations at the temple, was informed that the SIT would file its chargesheet by September 25.

Mehta told a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant that the 90-day period from the first arrest would expire on September 25 and that the chargesheet would have to be filed to prevent the accused from claiming statutory bail.

The court also perused the SIT’s detailed status report submitted in a sealed cover and had earlier directed the agency to complete the investigation expeditiously.

Under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, an accused may claim statutory bail if the investigating agency fails to file a chargesheet within the prescribed period of 60 or 90 days, depending on the offence.

The allegations of irregularities in the management of donations at the temple had led several petitioners, including RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, to approach the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe and a forensic audit of the finances of the temple trust.

While the Lawyers' body demands FIR against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, but the chore bagawat having resoved betwen themselves that they would not file the case. 

At a general body meeting presided over by association president Kalika Prasad Mishra, lawyers alleged that the government and administration are protecting the three and giving them a clean chit.

In this photo from Jan 22, 2024, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai speaks during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

In this photo from Jan 22, 2024, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai speaks during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Faizabad .

The Faizabad Bar Association on Saturday warned of further agitation if an FIR is not registered against former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, former trustee Anil Mishra and temple official Gopal Rao in connection with alleged irregularities in handling of donations at the Ram Mandir.

At a general body meeting presided over by association president Kalika Prasad Mishra, lawyers alleged that the government and administration are protecting the three and giving them a clean chit.

A delegation subsequently met Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover and demanded urgent action in the matter.

Kalika Prasad Mishra claimed those responsible for the alleged donation theft are being protected and said no case had been registered on the association's complaint naming Rai, Mishra and Rao as accused. 

He warned that the lawyers would continue their agitation until an FIR is registered.

The association had on June 29 resolved not to represent the eight persons arrested in the donation embezzlement case and impose a Rs 5 lakh fine on any member violating the decision. It had also demanded that Rai, Mishra and Rao leave Ayodhya and warned of stronger action if they failed to comply.

In this photo from Jan 22, 2024, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai speaks during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

Sespite Champat Rai-Nripendra Misra face-off: Who called the shots in Ram Mandir construction, Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said the alleged theft of temple offerings had hurt the sentiments of lawyers and devotees.

The sentiments of all of all advocates and faith holders have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused. It is good sign.

The alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations came to light in June, following which an FIR was registered on June 25 against eight accused. 

The case relates to alleged theft and misappropriation of cash and valuables offered by devotees at the temple.

The Faizabad Bar Association subsequently submitted a complaint seeking FIR against Rai, Mishra and Rao, alleging their involvement in the alleged embezzlement, and demanding a fair probe.

The controversy led to resignations of Rai and Mishra from their positions in the temple trust. The SIT, which investigated the case, later submitted its final report, which reportedly cleared Rai and Mishra of the donation-theft allegations.+

The UP SIT gives clean chit to Champat Rai, Anil Mishra in Ram Temple donation case. 

The SIT report has been submitted to the state government and subsequently handed over to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action.

According to sources, neither Rai nor Mishra has been named as an accused in the final SIT report. 

The report has been submitted to the state government and subsequently handed over to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action.

The development is significant as both Rai and Mishra had faced questions over their alleged role in the management of the temple's donation-counting system after the alleged theft came to light in June. 

Both had subsequently resigned from their positions, taking what was described as moral responsibility amid the controversy.

The final report retains the focus on the eight people who were named in the FIR registered on June 25 following the SIT's preliminary findings.

The accused are Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu. All eight have already been arrested and are in judicial custody.

The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint by Trust member Krishna Mohan at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station. 

The accused were booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The controversy erupted after alleged irregularities were detected while offerings from the temple's donation boxes were being counted. 

Following a request from the temple trust, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 13.

The team was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with IG Range Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar as members. 

The SIT submitted its preliminary report on June 23, following which the FIR was registered and arrests were made.

The final report is now expected to be placed before the Trust for consideration at its upcoming meeting scheduled for September 2.

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai. Ram Temple donation theft: Seers back Champat Rai; urge devotees not to believe 'false propaganda'

Rai had earlier rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said he would respond to the allegations after the final SIT report was submitted.

In a letter issued in July, Rai had said that several "baseless allegations" had been levelled against him following the June 7 incident. 

He had maintained that he would answer every allegation point-by-point once the final report brought the facts on record.

The latest SIT findings therefore provide significant relief to Rai and Mishra, at least in the investigation conducted by the state-government-appointed SIT. 

This inspite the Supreme Court-monitors probe still underway.

However, the latest development does not mean that the entire legal and investigative process has ended.

A separate SIT was subsequently constituted following Supreme Court intervention. 

The reconstituted team includes senior police officers, including IG Kiran S, DIG Ayodhya Somen Verma and Ayodhya SSP Gaurav Grover. The second investigation is continuing under the Supreme Court's oversight.

The Supreme Court has also declined, at this stage, to make the investigation's status report public, indicating that the court itself will examine the findings before deciding on further disclosure.

Thus, while the UP government's SIT report does not name Champat Rai or Anil Mishra as accused and keeps the criminal case focused on the eight already arrested, the broader controversy surrounding the management of Ram Temple donations remains under judicial scrutiny.