Ayodhya: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has said it will wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case before deciding whether any action should be taken against former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. The statement comes as scrutiny over the temple trust’s functioning continues to intensify.
Speaking to the media, VHP International President Alok Kumar clarified that the organisation does not hold the Ram Temple Trust directly under its control and that the trust is responsible for managing the temple’s affairs. He stressed that the VHP would not prejudge Champat Rai’s role and would instead wait for the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) before considering any disciplinary action.
Alok Kumar said the VHP’s role effectively ended after the construction of the Ram Temple was entrusted to the independent trust. He added that the organisation neither runs temples nor oversees their day-to-day administration, distancing the VHP from decisions taken by the trust in its operational capacity.
At the same time, Kumar described the alleged embezzlement of devotees’ donations as “shameful” and said the matter had deeply hurt devotees and volunteers associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He called for a comprehensive investigation covering everyone connected with the trust’s administration, including Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra, and any other individual who may have had a role, while emphasizing that guilt should be determined only after the investigation is completed.
The controversy erupted after eight individuals were arrested on allegations of systematically siphoning donations collected at the Ram Temple. Investigators have since recovered substantial amounts of cash and are examining financial records, bank transactions and the temple’s donation management system to determine the full extent of the alleged embezzlement. The Uttar Pradesh government has also granted the SIT an additional 15 days to widen its investigation.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has confirmed that it received the resignation letters of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid the ongoing probe. The trust has stated that it is cooperating fully with investigators and has assured devotees that their donations remain secure.
The case has generated nationwide political and public attention, with demands from opposition parties and legal activists for greater transparency in the administration of temple donations. While the investigation continues, the VHP has maintained that any decision regarding Champat Rai should be based solely on the evidence gathered by the SIT rather than on public speculation.
