Who stole from Ram Temple’s donation boxes? The SIT report, explained
What did the SIT report in the Ram Temple embezzlement case reveal? What were the security lapses? What are the next steps?
Former Ram Temple general secretary Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra have been cleared of charges related to a donation theft investigation, according to the Special Investigating Team. The two had resigned from their positions on June 27 amid ongoing scrutiny into alleged irregularities involving temple donations. The controversy arose on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey alleged donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore were stolen from temple offerings.
The state government formed the Special Investigating Team on June 13 at the request of the temple trust. The team, led by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and others, conducted an initial inquiry from June 15 to 20, examining the entire donation management system. Sources say the SIT found evidence of irregularities in cash handling, counting, storage, accounting, access controls, and CCTV surveillance.
The Ram Temple Trust, established after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict, received ₹82.78 crore in donations from April 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
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