Ram temple offering theft case: VHP defended Champat Rai, said- Trust had demanded SIT investigation

New Delhi. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has defended the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in the alleged embezzlement case of offerings in the Ram temple of Ayodhya, claiming that the trust itself had initiated an impartial investigation into the entire matter. According to the organization, first an internal investigation was conducted, then a request was made to meet the Chief Minister to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and after receiving the preliminary report, the Trust itself lodged an FIR.

VHP International President Alok Kumar released a video message on Monday saying that the Trust wants the entire truth of the matter to be revealed and strict action should be taken against the culprits. He said that after the FIR registered on the basis of the complaint of the Trust, eight people involved in the counting and maintenance of offerings in the temple were arrested.

Alok Kumar said that after the role of some people came to light in the internal investigation of the Trust, about Rs 80 lakh was also recovered. After this, the officials of the trust met the Chief Minister and requested to constitute SIT. On receiving the preliminary report of the SIT, the Trust immediately lodged an FIR and also demanded a comprehensive investigation. He said that when the SIT reached Ayodhya, the then General Secretary of the Trust, Champat Rai himself told the investigating agency that he should be interrogated first, so that the investigation could be completely impartial.

Resigned for fair investigation

The VHP president said that when questions were raised that by continuing in office, Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra could influence the investigation, both of them voluntarily resigned from their posts to ensure a fair and independent investigation. It is noteworthy that Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had resigned from their posts on June 27, two days after the FIR was registered in the case.

Eight accused arrested

In this case, the police have so far arrested eight accused including Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. A provision has also been made in the FIR to investigate other possible accused.

Targeted at opposition also

VHP also attacked opposition parties on this issue. Taking the name of Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Alok Kumar said that despite allegations of corruption, he had not left the post of Chief Minister. He also mentioned Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, including former prime ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Rajiv Gandhi, saying they did not resign despite allegations. He claimed that by leaving their posts, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra gave the message that the investigation should be fair and the truth should come out.