Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s former trustee Anil Kumar Mishra and former general secretary Champat Rai, who came under intense political scrutiny after allegations of irregularities in handling devotees’ donations at the Ram temple surfaced, have been named as prosecution witnesses in the charge sheet filed in the case.
The two former senior Trust functionaries are among 133 witnesses cited in the 59-page covering part of the charge sheet filed before the special judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Ayodhya, on September 23. All eight accused were arrested on June 26, a day after the FIR was registered on Krishna Mohan’s complaint. The charge sheet was filed on September 23, two days before the September 25 deadline linked to the 90-day statutory period from the first arrests.
Their resignations were announced by the Trust on June 27. The charge sheet invokes Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged criminal breach of trust, along with Sections 317(2) and 317(5) concerning property allegedly derived from such an offence and its concealment, and Section 61(2) relating to criminal conspiracy. Analysis of CCTV footage and other digital evidence identified 105 instances of alleged unauthorised removal or concealment of currency inside the counting room, according to SIT status material placed before the Supreme Court.
The witness status of Mishra and Rai is notable as both held key positions in the Trust during the period under investigation and were questioned about its donation-handling arrangements. Rai, who was general secretary during the period under investigation, was also questioned. Both subsequently resigned from their respective Trust positions. The allegations against all eight accused are part of the prosecution case and remain to be tested during trial. None of the accused has been convicted in the case and they are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent court.
Prosecution sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act has also been obtained against the six counting agents, according to the investigation record.
