Ram Temple Donation Probe: Trust Meeting on July 6 as Two Key Trustees Resign
The upcoming meeting of the Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on July 6 has drawn attention amid a police investigation into alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The trust, which oversees the temple's construction and administration, is set to discuss the matter, with speculation that the gathering could address the resignations of two senior trustees.
Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations on June 25, the same day an FIR was lodged in connection with the alleged theft. Police have arrested eight individuals in the case. Sources indicate that Rai and Mishra were closely involved in the temple's administration and had knowledge of the accused.
The trust's by-laws state that a trustee serves as a lifetime member unless removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the trust. This provision has become a point of discussion among trust functionaries, as it may influence the acceptance of the resignations or any potential removal proceedings.
Senior functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have begun arriving in Ayodhya ahead of the Monday meeting, though it remains unclear whether the gathering will be formally designated as a trust meeting. The developments have intensified scrutiny on the trust's internal processes and governance.
Background: The Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was established in February 2020 after the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute. The trust is responsible for the construction and management of the Ram Temple, which is being built on the site where the Babri Masjid once stood. The temple's construction has been a landmark project for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological parent, the RSS.
The alleged donation theft has raised questions about financial oversight at the temple, which receives large sums of money from devotees worldwide. The trust has previously stated that it maintains transparent accounting practices, but the recent arrests have prompted demands for greater accountability.
As the trust prepares for its meeting, observers are watching to see if the body will take concrete steps to address the crisis, including appointing new trustees or revising its by-laws to ensure stricter financial controls. The outcome of the meeting could have implications for the trust's credibility and the temple's ongoing operations.
