Claim
When asked about main accused Ramashankar Yadav, Champat Rai said he had given Ramashankar a job considering him needy, but was later betrayed by him.
“जब चंपत राय से मुख्य आरोपी रमाशंकर यादव के बारे में पूछा गया तो उन्होंने कहा कि उन्होंने रमाशंकर को जरूरतमंद समझकर नौकरी पर रखा था। लेकिन बाद में इसी ने मुझे धोखा दे दिया।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Both elements of the claim are documented: Champat Rai, ex-general secretary of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, told the SIT that needy people (jarooratmand) had been given work and openly said Tinnu (Ramashankar) Yadav, the main accused in the Ram Mandir donation-theft case, had betrayed him ('Tinnu ne mujhe dhokha diya' / 'betrayed by those I trusted'). The anchor's paraphrase fairly captures these statements. The only imprecision is that Rai's 'needy' remark was a general defense of the trust's hiring practices rather than an explicit statement that he personally hired Ramashankar specifically because he was needy, so the wording slightly conflates a general and a specific point, but the substance is accurate.
Evidence
- https://www.varta24live.com/top-news-old/ram-temple-offering-theft-case-i-will-not-leave-ayodhya-with-the-stigma-champat-rai-made-a-big-statement-saying-tinnu-betrayed-me-699193 Champat Rai stated 'Tinnu ne mujhe dhokha diya' (Tinnu betrayed me) in the Ram Mandir donation theft case, confirming the betrayal element of the claim. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/ram-temple-donation-theft-betrayed-by-those-i-trusted-claims-champat-rai/ Reports Champat Rai claiming he was 'betrayed by those I trusted' regarding the donation theft. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.patrika.com/ayodhya-news/ram-mandir-donation-theft-case-champat-rai-interrogation-tinnu-yadav-20707846 During SIT questioning Champat Rai said 'jarooratmand logon ko kaam diya gaya tha' (needy people were given work) and that he never expected Tinnu (Ramashankar) Yadav, long associated with the trust, to commit such fraud. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.pratahkal.com/faith/ram-mandir-donation-theft-case-sit-interrogates-former-trust-secretary-champat-rai-1607427 Confirms Rai's remarks that Tinnu Yadav was long associated with him and he never suspected such betrayal; notes appointments also rested on recommendations of influential people. ✓ reachable · archived