Ayodhya Ram temple donation scam: Trust General Secretary Champat Rai resigns as investigation progresses

AYODHYA: A top official of the temple trust and a trust member resigned amid an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra have voluntarily resigned, taking moral responsibility. The resignations of both came shortly after the preliminary report of the special investigation team appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government was released. The special investigation team found serious lapses in handling the donations and offerings made by devotees to the temple.

Eight people have been arrested so far in the case. Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav were arrested. A case was registered against them under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The report states that around Rs 7.5 crore was siphoned from the money taken as donations for the temple. Six of the arrested are employees who were assigned to count the money.