In brief
The management of Ayodhya's Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced a leadership reshuffle after accusations that millions of rupees donated were stolen. After an interim report and a police case registering eight suspects, the general secretary Champat Rai resigned and a former RSS official was installed as interim general secretary. The trust, which has received about 5.82 bn rupees in offerings, states it has spent 3.19 bn rupees on shrine upkeep. The allegations, sparked by a former accounts supervisor, have stirred political controversy and court petitions. Next steps include police reports and a family‑trust panel to appoint a new CEO.
Authorities at the grand temple to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya announced a leadership overhaul after allegations that tens of millions of rupees received in donations were stolen.
The trust that manages the shrine accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and replaced him with an interim official. In a press conference following its first meeting after last month’s allegations surfaced, the trust’s treasurer Govind Dev Giri said Rai and another official, Anil Mishra, had stepped down after police lodged a complaint on 25 June.
In his first remarks, interim general secretary Krishna Mohan, an ex‑forest officer turned RSS member, pledged to "identify and close any loophole so such incidents are never repeated" and to restore trust after the theft claims damaged the shrine’s image.
The Shiv Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which collects, sorts and counts donations, said it had received 5.82 bn rupees ($61 m) from devotees until 31 March 2026 and spent 3.19 bn rupees ($33.48 m) on the shrine’s upkeep.
The controversy began when a former accounts supervisor was dismissed after raising concerns about alleged wrongdoing. Opposition parties and petitioners have called for a federal police investigation, and the state's special investigation team (SIT) has filed an interim report naming eight suspects. Police have registered a case of alleged embezzlement and are questioning those arrested.
The allegations add to the political baggage of Ayodhya, a site that was rebuilt as the Ram temple in January 2024 after the 1992 mosque was demolished, sparking nationwide riots. The mishap was described by Giri as "deeply painful and shameful," and the trust plans another meeting on 22 July to receive the police’s final report.
