Ram Temple trustees overhaul amid alleged multimillion‑rupee donation theft

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:21:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust faces a leadership shake‑up after accusations of theft of tens of millions of rupees in donations, leading to resignations and a new interim head.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, has become a major pilgrimage site drawing an estimated 50 million visitors a year. Trust officials report that tens of millions of rupees worth of donations may have been stolen, prompting a police investigation and the resignation of senior trustee Champat Rai. The trust has appointed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary and set up a new CEO post to restore credibility and tighten financial controls. The investigation remains ongoing, with an interim report filed by a three‑member SIT and allegations of missing 70 million rupees by a former city legislator. The trust will reconvene in July to review police findings and decide on future leadership.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust that manages the newly inaugurated Ram temple in Ayodhya has announced a sweeping leadership overhaul in response to allegations that donations totaling tens of millions of rupees may have been stolen.

The trust accepted the resignation of its general secretary, Champat Rai, and installed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as the interim general secretary. A new Chief Executive Officer post has also been created with a panel set to recommend a suitable candidate.

The temple, which was officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, draws about 50 million visitors annually and is regarded by many Hindus as the birthplace of Lord Ram.

The trust, which is responsible for collecting, sorting and accounting for donations, reported receiving 5.82 billion rupees (about $61 million) from devotees until 31 March 2026. Of that, 3.19 billion rupees (around $33 million) have been spent on upkeep of the shrine.

Allegations of theft first surfaced when a former accounts supervisor, who was dismissed after raising concerns, claimed that more than 70 million rupees were missing. Law enforcement has set up a three‑member Special Investigation Team (SIT) and announced a case of alleged embezzlement, naming eight individuals who have been arrested for questioning.

Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri told reporters that the theft was carried out by close associates, and that the trust was not complicit. He said the focus is on restoring public confidence and tightening finance controls to prevent future incidents.

The next trustees meeting is scheduled for 22 July, by which time police are expected to file their final report. The situation remains fluid and the trust’s leadership remains in transition as investigations continue.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.