2 weeks ago
First SIT Clears Ram Temple Officials as Probe Continues
People suspected that donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya had been stolen.
A first investigation team looked into the case and said former trust officials Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were not responsible.
The team said eight arrested people were responsible for the alleged crime.
A report was sent to the temple trust for possible further action.
However, the Supreme Court was not satisfied that the first team could fully investigate the case.
Because of this, another investigation team was formed.
The second team is still examining what happened.
This means the first team’s report does not necessarily end the entire investigation.
The first SIT cleared former trust officials Champat Rai and Anil Mishra in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case.
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department submitted the first SIT’s final report to the temple trust for further action.
The first SIT, headed by Vijay Vishwas Pant, was formed on June 13 and submitted preliminary findings on June 23.
An FIR filed on June 25 named eight people and unidentified individuals; the named accused were arrested under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Supreme Court criticized the first SIT’s ability to conduct a forensic audit, and a second SIT is continuing the investigation.
- Who
- Former trust officials Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were cleared by the first SIT; eight other people were named in the FIR.
- What
- The first SIT submitted a report clearing Rai and Mishra in the alleged theft of temple donations, while a second SIT continues investigating.
- Where
- The case concerns the Ram Temple and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The first SIT was formed on June 13, submitted preliminary findings on June 23, and an FIR was registered on June 25; Rai and Mishra resigned on June 27.
- Why
- The investigation followed allegations of theft and irregularities involving donations and offerings at the temple.
First SIT Report
Supreme Court and Continuing Probe
Responsibility for the alleged theft
First SIT Report
The first SIT report reportedly attributed the alleged crime to the eight arrested people and did not name Rai; it also said Mishra was unaware of the alleged theft.
Supreme Court and Continuing Probe
The Supreme Court found the first SIT insufficiently equipped for a forensic audit, so the broader investigation remains open through a second SIT.
Meaning of the clean chit
First SIT Report
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department reviewed the report and handed it to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for further action.
Supreme Court and Continuing Probe
Telegraph India reported that the first SIT report had no legal or administrative value after the Supreme Court’s intervention and the creation of a new team.
Rai’s role
First SIT Report
Rai reportedly denied involvement and said he had lodged a complaint after learning of the suspected wrongdoing.
Supreme Court and Continuing Probe
Rai and Mishra had resigned while taking what reports described as moral responsibility against the backdrop of the alleged theft, although the first SIT did not hold them responsible.
Key facts
- Cleared officials
- Champat Rai and Anil Mishra
- First SIT head
- Vijay Vishwas Pant, Lucknow divisional commissioner
- First SIT members
- Kiran S, inspector general of the Lucknow Range, and Neel Ratan Kumar, special secretary for finance
- Key dates
- SIT formed June 13; preliminary report submitted June 23; FIR registered June 25
- FIR
- Named eight people and other unidentified individuals
- Legal provisions
- Relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
- Status
- The first SIT report was submitted to the temple trust, while a second SIT continues the probe
Quotes
Arjun Ram Meghwal
Law Minister of India
“They shifted the focus of the debate, and there was even infighting among them. For instance, the SP wanted to discuss alleged irregularities regarding the offerings at the Ram Mandir, while the Congress prioritised the issue of the mistreatment of students. They didn't actually want the discussion; they wanted an uproar. Even today, they kept the Home Minister waiting. This implies that they themselves did not want the discussion.”
livemint.com
“They were ready to discuss the issues but all topics cannot be discussed at once.”
livemint.com
Home Department Source
Unidentified official from the Uttar Pradesh home department
“The report holds responsible for the crime only those eight persons who were arrested in June this year. This is based on the CCTV footage and recovery of stolen money from seven of the eight arrested temple employees.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Ram temple donation theft: First SIT gives clean chit to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra - Telegraph India
Ram temple donation theft case: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra get clean chit from SIT
Ram Mandir donation case: Former general secretary Champat Rai gets clean chit from SIT; probe underway
Ram Temple Ex-Top Official Champat Rai Gets Clean Chit In Donation Theft Case
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