Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday yet again launched a broadside against the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, claiming that influential people were spared, while lower-level employees were sent to jail on the said charges. 

Yadav’s remarks surfaced amid renewed controversy surrounding a 9-page-long letter attributed to Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomu Teerth Kshetra Trust. Concerns were raised in the letter over the functioning of the temple’s administrative machinery and alleged deep differences with Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee. 

Allegations of absolute control emerge

In the letter, Rai reportedly accused Misra of exercising ‘absolute control’ over the temple’s construction and alleged that he considered himself the principal authority on major decisions. 

He further claimed in the letter that no work could advance without Misra’s approval, Rai then raised objections over the induction of people favoured by Misra into the construction committee, claiming that some members rarely visited Ayodhya and contributed little to the project. 

Against the backdrop of the letter, Yadav questioned whether new developments were being used to make people forget what had happened earlier. 

Yadav accused the government of throwing the ordinary employees under the bus to shield the ones responsible for the alleged theft of donations. Taking aim at the BJP government ruling the state, Yadav claimed that greed controls the minds of the BJP, alleging that poor people had been defrauded of their land. 

Furthermore, he expressed hope that such an incident would not take place again. 

Ram Temple gets new CEO amid controversy

Meanwhile, the temple trust moved ahead with a major administrative reshuffle. Former officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Jitendra Mishra was named the new CEO of the Ram Temple organisation from a shortlist of three candidates. 

Sources privy to the development said the meeting also finalised two panel members and the general secretary after 5,585 applications were considered. The meeting was chaired at the residence of Nritya Gopal Das, president of the Ram Mandir Trust, at Maniramdas Chhawani. 

What is the Ram Temple Donation theft case?

The “Chanda Chori” (donation theft) controversy erupted earlier this year following allegations of cash theft from the temple’s donation-counting operations. CCTV footage from secure counting rooms reportedly helped uncover the alleged wrongdoing. A Special Investigation Team found that individuals authorised to count cash donations were allegedly siphoning off money during counting sessions. Investigators reportedly found accused persons concealing cash in their pockets, shoes and clothing.

Acting upon the disclosures, law enforcement agencies conducted raids at multiple locations, including the residences of eight primary accused, leading to significant cash recoveries. The controversy also triggered an administrative shake-up. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra eventually stepped down from their respective administrative positions. Rai, who faced intense political scrutiny during the investigation, was subsequently given a clean chit by the investigating police personnel.