Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Alok Kumar on Friday, 27 June declared that no individual — including those not named in the FIR — is shielded from the investigation into the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case, pushing back against opposition concerns that key figures had been left out of the complaint. Kumar insisted the probe would be both comprehensive and time-bound.

Why Champat Rai's Absence from the FIR Sparked Controversy

Opposition leaders had questioned why Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai was not named in the First Information Report. Kumar dismissed the concern directly, stating that the FIR's named accused represent only the starting point of the inquiry, not its outer limit.

'What does that accomplish? They are not outside the investigation; they will also be investigated,' Kumar said. 'Neither Champat nor Anil are outside the scope of this investigation, nor is there any such intention.' He noted that the FIR explicitly includes the phrase 'and other unidentified persons', which legally keeps the net wide.

How the FIR Came About

Kumar explained that the FIR was a direct consequence of a preliminary inquiry by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government at the Trust's own request. 'When these allegations started being made, the Trust told the government — the Uttar Pradesh government — to form an SIT,' he said. 'The SIT conducted a primary investigation. It has identified these people in its report and named them. Therefore, an FIR was filed.'

He emphasised that the investigation would extend beyond the named accused to cover all individuals against whom allegations have been raised.

Eight Accused Arrested Within Hours of FIR

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested all eight accused persons in the case within hours of the FIR being registered — a swift enforcement action linked to the alleged misappropriation of donations offered by devotees at the Ayodhya temple. The arrests followed the SIT's preliminary findings submitted to the state government.

VHP's Demand: Swift, Senior-Led Investigation

Kumar had on Thursday called for an immediate FIR, describing any diversion of offerings made to Lord Ram's temple as 'an injury to the faith of the Hindu community.' He characterised the matter as 'sad and unfortunate' and urged swift legal action.

On Friday, he sharpened that demand: 'No fish is free from investigation. No one is being saved. We expect the police to investigate everyone. Senior officers should investigate, and it should be done within a time-bound limit, so that a decision can be reached quickly, and the process of sending these people to jail can be expedited.'

What Comes Next

With all eight named accused in custody, investigators are expected to widen their questioning to other individuals connected to the alleged embezzlement. The VHP's public pressure for a time-bound probe signals that the organisation will continue to scrutinise the pace and scope of the investigation — keeping political and institutional attention firmly on Ayodhya.