SIT finds management failure in Ram Temple row

Top functionaries under scanner, police record Champat Rai's statement

- BISWAJEET BANERJEE

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple management has found evidence of administrative lapses and supervisory failures and has not given a clean chit to any office bearer, employee or person associated with the temple's functioning, sources said.

A senior official of SIT told this reporter that the investigation agency has flagged the roles of senior trust functionaries, including General Secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and construction aide Gopal Rao, while investigations into allegations of commission and irregular land transactions are still underway.

"We have not given clean chit to any senior official. We have interrogated Champat Rai and have issued notice to 80 Ram Mandir Trust office bearers including Anil Mishra. We have found a trail of money," he said.

Investigators have already recorded statements of several witnesses and are collecting documentary evidence. Gopal Rao, against whom multiple allegations have surfaced, also remains under the scanner.

"The SIT is separately investigating allegations that trustee Anil Mishra sought a 40 per cent commission in certain dealings. Allegations of irregularities in land purchases and sales involving Champat Rai are also under scrutiny as one of the close aides of Rai purchased a large chunk of land and, the same day, sold it at an exorbitant rate," official said.