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UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya supported Champat Rai in the Ram Temple donation controversy, stating there’s no need to escalate the matter.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya (Image: PTI/File)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya came out in support of Champat Rai amid the controversy surrounding the Ram Temple donation issue, saying there was no need to unnecessarily escalate the matter.
Speaking on the issue, Maurya said, “Those who worked tirelessly, like great ascetics, for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, including Champat Rai and others, are deeply pained by this incident.”
He also sought to downplay the controversy, stating, “No need to make such a big deal of the Ram Temple donation issue.”
Maurya’s remarks came a day after a former employee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust levelled several allegations against individuals linked to the management of the Ram Temple.
The former staffer, who said he worked at the temple for nearly 18 months, alleged that Tinnu Yadav, a close associate and driver of the trust’s former general secretary Champat Rai, would ask sevadars and employees to massage his feet. In an interview with News18 India, he also claimed that former trust member Anil Mishra and official Gopal Rai exercised significant control over the temple’s day-to-day functioning and allegedly subjected employees to harassment.
“Several employees and sevadars have left the temple. In a way, they are victims,” the former employee claimed.
Responding to a question about Champat Rai, the former employee said he did not want to level any allegations against him.
“I do not want to say anything about Champat Rai. I have no complaints against him,” he said.
Champat Rai Says ‘He Was Betrayed’
Meanwhile, amid the row, Champat Rai stated that “he was betrayed”. “I was betrayed. It was the who had installed hidden cameras to catch the theft,” he told News 18 on Thursday.
During his interrogation, Champat Rai reportedly told police that the hidden surveillance cameras had been installed at his direction and that the footage recorded by those cameras led to the detection of the alleged theft.
Investigators also questioned Rai and former Ram Mandir Trust trustee Anil Mishra separately as part of the probe into the alleged donation theft. Mishra had resigned from his position as trustee last week.
The News18 report, citing sources, said investigators sought records from Mishra relating to the temple’s administrative functioning, procedures governing donation management and financial documents.
During Rai’s questioning, police focused on the developments after the alleged theft was detected, the mechanism used for counting donations and the Trust’s response after the incident came to light.
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
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