1 week ago
Rai’s Letter Challenges Misra’s Influence Over Ayodhya Temple Decisions
Champat Rai was a senior official in the trust managing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
He wrote a nine-page letter about how the temple construction committee operated.
Rai said Nripendra Misra, who chaired the committee, made many important decisions himself.
He also said Misra brought people he preferred into the committee.
Rai claimed that other members’ suggestions were sometimes ignored.
He linked Misra to the choice of construction companies, consultants and some design personnel.
The letter also described how the committee approved major building work and helped develop a museum.
Misra said he had not seen the letter and called the reports made up.
Separate claims about donation irregularities remain contested, with one state investigation clearing Rai while another investigation was continuing.
Former trust general secretary Champat Rai alleged that Nripendra Misra dominated key decisions on the Ayodhya Ram Temple project.
Rai’s nine-page letter said Misra brought preferred individuals into the construction committee and often sidelined other members’ suggestions.
Rai attributed the selection of Larsen & Toubro, Tata Consulting Engineers and Design Associates personnel to Misra’s recommendations or decisions.
The letter said the construction committee approved major works, met monthly or fortnightly for a period, and retained chief architect Chandrakant Bhai Sompura.
Misra said he had not seen the letter, rejected the allegations as baseless or concocted, and denied involvement in appointing the temple’s chief executive officer.
- Who
- Champat Rai, former general secretary of the temple trust, and Nripendra Misra, chairman of the temple construction committee, are the main figures.
- What
- Rai alleged that Misra exercised disproportionate control over construction decisions, committee membership and project appointments; Misra rejected the allegations.
- Where
- The allegations concern the Ram Temple project and its construction committee in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- Rai’s letter was dated August 18; Misra responded to reporters on Friday, with one report identifying the response date as August 21, 2026.
- Why
- Rai’s claims focused on how construction decisions and appointments were made and emerged amid a dispute over alleged irregularities in temple donations and offerings.
Champat Rai’s Allegations
Nripendra Misra’s Response
Control over construction decisions
Champat Rai’s Allegations
Rai said Misra personally handled major decisions, and that the committee’s decisions or other members’ suggestions were sometimes overridden or disregarded.
Nripendra Misra’s Response
Misra rejected the claims, saying he had not seen the letter and describing the reports as baseless, imaginary or concocted.
Committee membership and advisers
Champat Rai’s Allegations
Rai alleged that Misra brought people of his choice into the committee, including individuals who rarely visited Ayodhya or advised on specific issues.
Nripendra Misra’s Response
Misra did not accept the reported interpretation of his role and said the controversy was being created over a non-issue.
Appointments and executive role
Champat Rai’s Allegations
Rai attributed the selection of L&T, Design Associates personnel and other project-related appointments to Misra’s recommendations or decisions.
Nripendra Misra’s Response
Misra denied involvement in appointing the Ram Mandir chief executive officer and said he had no information about that process.
Key facts
- Document
- Rai issued a purported nine-page open letter dated August 18.
- Committee authority
- Rai said the construction committee had to approve every major construction-related work.
- Committee meetings
- The committee normally met monthly and, for a period, met every fortnight.
- Major contractors and consultants
- Rai said Larsen & Toubro was selected for construction and Tata Consulting Engineers for project management consultancy.
- Design-related work
- Rai referred to Noida-based Design Associates for buildings other than the main temple and said its head, Jai Kanitkar, was selected by Misra.
- Chief architect
- Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, selected by Ashok Singhal in 1986, was retained for the project.
- Donation investigations
- A state-government SIT cleared Rai and a former trustee, while a separate Supreme Court-directed SIT was still investigating; AAP leader Sanjay Singh separately alleged that a page concerning Anil Mishra was removed from the first report.
Quotes
Nripendra Misra
Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee and former IAS officer
“Sri Nripendra Misra associated some people of his choice with the construction committee. One of them was invited to Ayodhya only twice in six years, and some security-related advice was taken from another. Anoop Mittal, former chairman of NBCC (National Building Construction Corporation), used to attend all the meetings along with Sri Nripendra Misra... This committee used to take all the decisions.”
telegraphindia.com
“Nripendra Mishra brought in persons of his choice in the Construction Committee for his help, one of whom came to Ayodhya one or two times in the past six years…. Nripendra Mishra always took all the decisions by himself”
wionews.com
Sources
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