Ayodhya Ram Temple donation case: Probe complete, chargesheet by Sept-end, say police

The investigation team in charge of the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has completed probing various aspects of the case, Senior Superintendent of Police of Ayodhya Gaurav Grover said.

The probe has to be completed in 90 days and the chargesheet has to be filed in court by the end of next month, the SSP said.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday (August 8), Grover said the SIT is not conducting any separate investigation and is coordinating in the police investigation in the role of a high-level probe adviser. The chairman of the SIT is Lucknow IGP S Kiran who has five years of experience in the CBI, he added. Grover also said that Kiran was continuously keeping a watch on the investigation at the local level and also giving advice.

No prominent person facing legal action

Sources in the temple said no prominent person has so far come under legal action in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple.

The sources added that previously, the SIT had raised serious questions over the role of Anil Mishra, former member of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

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As per the FIR in the donation theft case registered on June 25 at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station in Ayodhya, police had sent eight accused persons to jail. These included former temple trust general secretary Champat Rai's close aide Tinnu Yadav, counting in-charge Subhash Srivastava, Ramashankar Mishra, Manish Yadav, Karunesh, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp, and Avinash Shukla. Police took all eight accused on remand and interrogated them.

SIT set up by UP govt

The Supreme Court on July 27 was informed by the Uttar Pradesh government that it had set up a four-member special investigating team (SIT) headed by IGP S Kiran to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The top court asked the state government to include a forensic auditor as the fifth member of the SIT, which will submit its first status report within two weeks.

A bench comprising the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, that the SIT was formed through a notification issued on July 25 following the apex court's suggestion.

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The law officer said that besides the IGP, who was part of the team which had investigated whether an FIR was needed to be lodged, the SIT will include a DIG-rank officer, a senior superintendent of police, and an additional SP.

On July 20, the bench had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to apprise it about the possibility of setting up an SIT to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations.

Investigating officer Circle Officer Ayodhya Ashutosh Tiwari said that based on facts that emerged during questioning in the investigation, documentation was being updated, and the investigation was being taken forward.

Faizabad Bar Association’s statement

Kalika Mishra, the president of Faizabad Bar Association, said that the Bar is determined to take action against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao.

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He said that if the names of the three were not included in the FIR, then soon they are going to move to the court to get the FIR registered against them.

(With agency inputs)