Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, Gopal Rao among 133 witnesses named by SIT

Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, Gopal Rao among 133 witnesses named by SIT Rai and Mishra resigned as Trust office-bearers after allegations surfaced.

Key points

• 3 min read Lucknow Updated: Sep 27, 2026 06: 16 AM IST.
• Other witnesses named by the SIT include Krishna Mohan, a Trust member who filed the original complaint; Gopal M Nagarkatte, additionally known as Gopal Rao.
• Trustee Anil Mishra (left) and general secretary Champat Rai (right) are under pressure against the backdrop of the controversy.
• Rai served as the Trust's general secretary and Anil Mishra as a member.

Trustee Anil Mishra (left) and general secretary Champat Rai (right) are under pressure against the backdrop of the controversy. (Express photo).

In practice, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, has listed 133 witnesses – including former office-bearers of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra – in its chargesheet against the eight accused.

Rai served as the Trust's general secretary and Anil Mishra as a member. They resigned after the allegations of the donation theft surfaced.

Other witnesses named by the SIT include Krishna Mohan, a Trust member who filed the original complaint; Gopal M Nagarkatte, additionally known as Gopal Rao. This person was frequently invited as a special invitee to Trust meetings; along with a number of local residents and police personnel.

Taken together, the developments around ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, Gopal Rao among point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.