Claim
According to PTI, Champat Rai, who has managed the Ram Mandir's affairs since 2020, said that after the stigma of the theft controversy he will no longer live in Ayodhya.
“न्यूज़ एजेंसी पीटीआई के मुताबिक चंपत राय ने कहा है कि चोरी विवाद के कलंक के बाद अब वह अयोध्या में नहीं रहेंगे... वर्ष 2020 से ही वही राम मंदिर का पूरा कामकाज संभाल रहे थे।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
PTI (via PTI-Bhasha) did report on July 2, 2026 — amid the Ram Mandir donation-theft controversy and after Rai's resignation as trust general secretary — that Champat Rai told close associates his service in Ayodhya was complete and he would not stay on with the 'stigma', which multiple outlets rendered as his intention to no longer remain in Ayodhya. He had indeed run the trust's affairs since its creation in February 2020. The anchor's paraphrase slightly firms up PTI's wording ('will not remain with the stigma' → 'will not live in Ayodhya'), and the remark was relayed through sources rather than a public statement, but the attribution, substance, and timing are consistent with the PTI report.
Evidence
- https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/uttar-pradesh/ayodhya-ram-mandir-donation-controversy-champat-rai-management-issue-investigation Published July 2, 2026, citing PTI-Bhasha: Champat Rai told close associates his 'service in Ayodhya is complete' and he 'will not remain with the stigma' of the donation-theft controversy — matching the anchor's citation on the same day. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/wont-serve-ayodhya-under-a-stigma-champat-rai-1093147 PTI report confirming Rai, in seclusion after resigning from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust amid the donation embezzlement probe, said his Ayodhya service is complete and he won't continue under the stigma. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://newstrack.com/uttar-pradesh/champat-rai-says-i-have-been-betrayed-may-leave-ayodhya-stance-shifts-after-persistent-opposition-612210 Reports the same PTI story as indicating Rai may leave Ayodhya — a shift from his earlier statement that he would not leave carrying the stigma — showing the anchor's reading matched mainstream interpretation. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champat_Rai Champat Rai served as general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust since its formation in February 2020, overseeing the temple's affairs, supporting the 'since 2020' part of the claim. ✓ reachable · archived