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Ram Temple Trust Under Fire Amid Donation Controversy
A preliminary report from the three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, has raised serious concerns over the management of donations for the Ram Temple. While officials affirm that the investigation is ongoing, the initial findings have already prompted calls for significant changes within the trust. The SIT was formed after allegations of donation theft surfaced on June 7, urging the government to act swiftly and submit a report within a tight 15-day window.
Initial inquiries revealed troubling irregularities, leading the SIT to recommend the appointment of a senior administrative officer as the new CEO to enhance oversight of the temple's financial operations. Since launching the investigation on June 15, the SIT has scrutinized financial and administrative practices, interviewing key figures such as Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra.
To date, nearly 150 statements have been recorded from those involved in donation handling, including discrepancies noted between the accounts of former driver Ram Shankar Yadav, known as Tinnu, and trustee Anil Mishra. The SIT also gathered written evidence from 14 individuals connected to the trust's operations, diving deep into the usage of funds collected from donation boxes and reviewing historical records as far back as 2021.
As the investigation intensifies, there are discussions within the UP government regarding potential disciplinary actions against senior trust officials, including Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. Meanwhile, the temple trust has enacted new measures to bolster donation management. Previously, bank employees handled donation counting, but it was discovered that an outsourcing agency was involved, raising further questions about transparency.
Under new guidelines, employees tasked with counting donations are prohibited from using mobile phones in the vicinity, and communication with the media about the investigation has been restricted. The trust employs over 100 contractual workers across various roles, all of whom are under scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
So far, the SIT has reportedly recovered nearly Rs 2 crore in cash, aided by revelations from several individuals involved in donation processing. Additionally, gold was allegedly found at Tinnu's residence, suggesting a deeper level of potential misconduct. As the SIT presses forward, the controversy has not only posed a significant challenge for the Ram Temple administration but also provided political ammunition for opposition parties ahead of the crucial UP assembly elections.
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