Ram temple donation case: SIT gives clean chit to Champat Rai, Anil Mishra

SIT has cleared former Ram temple Trust officials Champat Rai and Anil Mishra in the alleged donation theft case, while the probe against eight accused continues

PGurus Newsdesk

August 18, 2026

Big relief for Champat Rai and Anil Mishra: SIT gives clean chit in Ram temple donation case

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has handed over the SIT’s final report to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust

Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra have received a clean chit from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged theft and irregularities in the handling of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department on Monday handed over the SIT’s final report to the temple trust for further action. The report clears Rai and Mishra of involvement in the alleged donation theft, according to reports.

The development comes nearly two months after allegations of irregularities in the handling of devotees’ donations triggered an investigation and led to the resignation of both Rai and Mishra from their positions on June 27. Both were subsequently questioned by investigators.

What did the SIT find?

According to reports, Rai told investigators that he had himself initiated action after becoming aware of the suspected theft and had lodged a complaint that eventually led to the arrest of the accused.

The SIT also examined the system used for collecting, counting and managing donations at the temple, including the role of Trust officials and other personnel involved in the process.

A preliminary SIT report had earlier flagged security lapses, inadequate supervision and violations of standard operating procedures in the donation-counting process. Investigators had also identified Ramshankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, as a central figure in the alleged fraud.

Eight accused arrested

The clean chit to Rai and Mishra does not bring the entire case to an end.

An FIR was registered on June 25 following the preliminary SIT findings. Eight people named in the FIR have been arrested in connection with the alleged donation-related irregularities and face charges under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The criminal proceedings against those accused will continue separately from the SIT’s findings regarding Rai and Mishra.

Supreme Court also seeks SIT report

The development comes a day after the Supreme Court directed the SIT to submit a status report on the investigation and asked that the probe be taken to its logical conclusion. The court also allowed petitioners and bona fide public-spirited individuals to submit suggestions to assist the investigation.

The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 after a request from the temple trust. The three-member panel was headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, with Inspector General Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar as its other members.

With the final report now submitted, the focus shifts to the Trust and the ongoing criminal proceedings against those accused of allegedly siphoning off temple donations.

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