Champat Rai and Anil Mishra: Their journey, roles and resignations at the Ram Mandir Trust

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) As probe continued into alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down from their positions on Friday. 

The resignations are being viewed as a significant part of changes within the temple administration after allegations of misappropriation of Ram Mandir donations, estimated at more than Rs 7 crore.

Though not directly implicated, their decisions were seen as taking moral responsibility amid mounting scrutiny.

The alleged theft has snowballed into a major controversy, affecting public faith in the temple's administration.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) found lapses in donation handling, leading to arrests of eight individuals.

While neither Champat Rai nor Anil Mishra were accused directly, their leadership roles placed them at the centre of the controversy.

Both resigned from the Temple Trust to allow a free investigation and to uphold the sanctity of the Ram Mandir.

Champat Rai, now 80, was born in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, and initially worked as a Chemistry professor before dedicating himself to public life. He became associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age and later joined the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in 1980. He was a prominent figure in the decades-long struggle for the Ram temple. He spent 18 months in jail during the Emergency, which strengthened his resolve to work for a cause he believed in.

Following a Supreme Court judgment that cleared the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was formed in February, 2020, and Champat Rai was appointed the General Secretary. He is said have been overseeing the temple construction, administration, and donation management.

Anil Mishra was a trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body set up to oversee the construction and management of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. His role was primarily administrative, working alongside other trustees to supervise temple affairs, including donation handling and organisational oversight.

Before joining the Temple Trust, Anil Mishra was known as a local figure in Ayodhya's civic and social circles, with involvement in administrative and community activities. His background was more rooted in local governance and organisational work rather than national-level activism. His appointment as trustee reflected the Trust's effort to include individuals with strong local connections to Ayodhya's temple and community life.

As trustee, say reports, Mishra was responsible for oversight of donations and offerings ('chadhava') at the temple. His role placed him in close proximity to financial operations, making his accountability reportedly significant in the controversy.

The hexagenerian's decision is said to have also been intended to ensure transparency and allow the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct its probe without questions of bias or conflict of interest.

--IANS

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