Champat Rai has resigned from his post at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested eight individuals involved in the alleged embezzlement case.
General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai, has stepped down from his position amid the controversy surrounding the alleged donation theft in the Ayodhya Ram Temple, sources told Times Now. Rai is also the vice president of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Sources indicated that a VHP meeting took place in Ayodhya yesterday, prior to the registration of an FIR regarding the donation controversy. Key office-bearers attended the meeting, including Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra, and Construction In-charge Gopal Rao, alongside VHP General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bagra, Central Organizing Secretary Milind Parande, and Central Joint Organizing Secretary Vinayak Rao. Discussions focused on the donation dispute, the SIT investigation, and the resulting situation.
The VHP is deeply concerned about its reputation, sources said. Champat Rai is a central and an influential figure, so the controversy surrounding him is tarnishing the organisation’s image, they stated.
Other accused in the case are Tinnu Yadav, a close associate of Rai, while Lavkesh and Anukalp are close to trustee Mishra.
8 arrested in case, FIR filed
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested all eight accused in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, hours after registering the first FIR in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations offered by devotees at the temple in Ayodhya. According to sources, all eight accused have been taken into custody and are most likely to be produced before a remand magistrate later on Friday.
