Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra have received a clean chit from the Special Investigation Team probing alleged theft and irregularities involving donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. According to an official statement cited on August 18, the Uttar Pradesh Home Department submitted the SIT's final report and forwarded it to the temple trust for further consideration.
Ayodhya donation row and SIT findings
The Ayodhya donation row emerged in June 2026 after serious allegations were raised over the handling of offerings collected at the temple. Questions were raised about donation counting procedures, security controls and financial oversight. Authorities subsequently launched an investigation, while the trust said it would cooperate with efforts to establish the facts and restore confidence among devotees.
The investigation focused on alleged theft by people involved in handling and counting donations. Eight individuals were arrested during the probe, and authorities reported recovering money from several suspects. The latest SIT findings, however, did not establish wrongdoing by Champat Rai or Anil Mishra, resulting in both former trust officials being cleared.
Supreme Court hearing on Ram Temple SIT probe
The Ram Temple SIT investigation has also come under Supreme Court scrutiny. On August 17, the court directed the investigating team to place a status report on record and take the inquiry to its logical conclusion. The court's involvement has kept attention on whether investigators have adequately examined the allegations and financial controls surrounding temple donations.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had also sought information from the Uttar Pradesh government's SIT and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust regarding progress in the investigation. The court has not declared the wider case closed, meaning proceedings involving the remaining accused and other aspects of the investigation continue independently of the clean chit given to Rai and Mishra.
Ram Temple trust leadership changes
The controversy led to major administrative changes within the temple trust. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra submitted their resignations amid the investigation, and the trust later accepted them. Retired Indian Forest Service officer Krishna Mohan was appointed interim general secretary as part of the leadership restructuring.
The trust has also been working to strengthen its management structure and financial oversight following the donation controversy. Its leadership changes and efforts to appoint senior administrators are expected to remain closely watched as the organisation handles large volumes of donations from devotees across India and abroad.
What happens after Champat Rai clean chit?
The clean chit is significant for Champat Rai and Anil Mishra because the SIT has not found evidence establishing their involvement in the alleged donation theft. However, it should not be described as the end of the entire Ayodhya donation case. The investigation against other accused persons and judicial scrutiny of the probe remain separate issues.
Attention will now turn to further legal proceedings, action against those accused in the alleged theft and measures introduced by the Ram Temple trust to improve donation security, accounting procedures and transparency.
