Claim
According to news agency PTI, Champat Rai 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।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
A PTI-sourced report does exist quoting Champat Rai amid the Ram temple donation theft controversy, but its substance is that his 'service in Ayodhya is complete' and he will not continue/serve under the 'stigma' (कलंक के साथ नहीं रहेंगे) — a statement about relinquishing his role, phrased ambiguously. The anchor's paraphrase converts this into the specific factual claim that Rai said he 'will no longer live in Ayodhya,' which misrepresents the meaning. Reporting was in fact contradictory: another source-based account quoted Rai as saying the opposite — that he would NOT leave Ayodhya carrying the stigma. The claim rests on a real PTI report but distorts its content, making it misleading rather than accurate.
Evidence
- https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/wont-serve-ayodhya-under-a-stigma-champat-rai-1093147 PTI-sourced report headlined 'Won't serve Ayodhya under a stigma' — Champat Rai reportedly told associates his 'service in Ayodhya is complete' and he won't continue with the 'stigma' (कलंक); this is about ceasing his role/service, not about no longer residing in Ayodhya. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ram-temple-donations-row-champat-rai-indicates-he-wont-continue-sit-questions-him-again/ PTI-based report frames his remark as indicating he 'won't continue' (his post/service), not that he will stop living in Ayodhya. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.deshbandhu.co.in/uttarpardesh/ayodhya-ram-mandir-donation-theft-champat-rai-sit-investigation-307529 Report quotes Rai's associates saying 'कलंक लेकर अयोध्या से नहीं जाऊंगा' — 'I will NOT leave Ayodhya carrying the stigma' — the opposite of the claim; attribution is to unnamed sources, not directly PTI. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.dainiktribuneonline.com/news/astha/my-service-in-ayodhya-is-complete-i-will-not-live-with-the-stigma-is-champat-rai-going-to-leave-the-responsibility/ States his service in Ayodhya is complete and he 'won't remain with the stigma' (कलंक के साथ नहीं रहेंगे) — ambiguous phrasing about not living under the stigma, framed as leaving his responsibility, not leaving the city. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/ram-temple-donation-theft-betrayed-by-those-i-trusted-claims-champat-rai/ PTI report emphasizing his 'betrayal' remark and seclusion; reporting is based on unnamed sources with no formal Trust statement, and no direct statement that he will not live in Ayodhya. ✓ reachable · archived