Champat Rai, the former chief of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, on Tuesday issued his first public response to the controversy surrounding donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

In an open letter to "Ram bhakts", Rai rejected the accusations against him as "baseless" and said he will respond in detail after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report.

Rai’s resignation was accepted even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the allegations of donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya submits its final report.

“Since 7 June, 2026, various discussions have been ongoing regarding the theft committed during the counting of donations from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple complex. Many people have levelled baseless allegations against me personally, but I have chosen to remain silent (maine maun dharan kar liya hai),” wrote Rai, who is also the international vice-president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). In his letter in Hindi, he added that the preliminary report of the SIT was presented in the meeting of the Trust held on 6 July.

“This report has now been made public although it was a ‘top secret’. I assure you that I will respond point-by-point on all issues raised related to the matter once the final report of the SIT is released. The entire truth will then come out,” he added. Rai said the VHP sent him to Ayodhya in October 1991 and he has been a pracharak for the last 45 years. “My life has been an open book wherever I have lived. My heartfelt respects to all,” he added.