Lucknow: The head of a temple located adjacent to the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya on Thursday levelled serious allegations against Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, claiming that he and his gang illegally grabbed control of the shrine through forged documents and that his complaints had been ignored by the authorities.The allegations were made by Hari Shankar Safariwala, who identified himself as the panch pramukh of the centuries-old Ram Niwas temple in Ramkot, during a press conference addressed by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow.Read more: Ram temple donation row: 'What transpired is confidential', says police after questioning Champat RaiSafariwali attended the press conference with the former chief minister and Ayodhya ex-MLA Tej Narain Pandey to bring attention to his claims.Addressing reporters, Safariwala claimed that the Ram Niwas temple is located directly next to the Ram Janmabhoomi complex and is managed by a panch committee, which has appointed a priest to oversee its operations.Alleging a conspiracy to take over the temple, Safariwala claimed that Champat Rai and his gang prepared forged documents under the guise of a property agreement despite temples not being saleable properties.
Ram Nivas temple head levels shrine grab charge against Champat Rai; Akhilesh Yadav seeks probe
A priest from a centuries-old temple near Ayodhya's Ram Mandir has accused Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and his associates of illegally seizing control of the shrine using forged documents. Hari Shankar Safariwala claims the temple, valued at Rs 50 crore, has been under their control for five years despite repeated complaints to authorities. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has called for a thorough investigation.
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