Claim
The drivers of the trust officials were overseeing the entire working of the Ram Mandir donation portfolio, yet the officials remain in place as if nothing happened.
“देयर ड्राइवर्स... दे वर ओवरसीइंग दी एंटायर वर्किंग ऑफ द राम मंदिर डोनेशन पोर्टफोलियो एंड दे आर स्टिल सिटींग देयर प्रिटेंडिंग नथिंग हैज़ हैपेंड।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
The claim's factual core is real: Champat Rai's former driver Tinnu Yadav allegedly masterminded the Ram Mandir donation theft, improperly held hundi keys, and placed a relative in the cash-counting unit, though 'drivers overseeing the entire working of the donation portfolio' exaggerates one driver's informal role. The second half is contradicted by the record: far from officials 'still sitting there pretending nothing has happened,' Champat Rai and Anil Mishra had submitted resignations on June 26, 2026, an SIT probe was underway, an FIR was registered June 25, and eight people were arrested — all before the July 1 broadcast. The only narrow truth is that the resignations had not yet been formally accepted (Trust vote pending July 6), so the anchor's framing mixes a grounded allegation with a materially outdated characterization.
Evidence
- https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/sit-finds-major-sop-violations-in-ayodhya-ram-temple-donation-fraud-probe SIT probe found Ramashankar 'Tinnu' Yadav, former driver of Trust general secretary Champat Rai, held keys to several donation boxes (hundis) contrary to procedure; eight accused involved in counting cash donations were arrested — supports the 'driver' part of the claim, though 'overseeing the entire donation portfolio' overstates his role. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.indiablooms.com/news/ram-mandir-donation-scam-champat-rai-points-finger-at-his-own-driver/details Champat Rai reportedly named his own driver Tinnu Yadav as the mastermind of the alleged embezzlement; Yadav was among the eight arrested. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/ram-mandir-donations-scam-general-secretary-champat-rai-temple-trust-member-anil-mishra-step-down-enn26062602772 Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted resignations on June 26, 2026 — five days before the July 1 broadcast — contradicting the assertion that officials remained in place 'as if nothing happened'. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/uttar-pradesh/ram-mandir-donation-theft-case-temple-trust-accepts-champat-rai-s-resignation-issues-statement-2026-06-27-1046332 On June 27 the Trust confirmed receipt of both resignations; formal acceptance required a two-thirds vote at a Trust meeting scheduled after the broadcast date, so the officials technically still held their posts on July 1. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/ram-mandir-donation-scam-sbi-flagged-cash-counting-staff-3-months-before-arrests-540273-2026-07-01 SBI had flagged cash-counting staff months earlier and recommended replacing them, but the move was allegedly blocked after intervention by Trust-linked members — context showing officials' oversight lapses; FIR filed June 25, eight arrests made. ✓ reachable · archived