Ram Temple Trust Accepts Top Officials’ Resignations Over Donation Theft Allegations
NEW DELHI: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignation of Champat Rai from the post of general secretary and trustee Anil Mishra, following allegations of donation misappropriation at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj confirmed the development, stating that Krishna Mohan has been given additional charge as interim general secretary. Rai had submitted his resignation last month, citing moral responsibility after the controversy erupted. The trust’s constitution, as highlighted by senior trustee K Parasaran, stipulates that a resignation is deemed accepted upon submission.
The controversy revolves around allegations that donations collected for the temple were stolen by individuals associated with its management. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on June 13, submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government on June 23. Based on the findings, an FIR was registered and eight people were arrested. Investigators also recovered deleted CCTV footage that allegedly shows some of the accused concealing currency notes while removing them from the temple premises.
No FIR has been registered against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, or special invitee Gopal Rao. However, lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya have filed a written police complaint seeking criminal proceedings against them. The trust has not commented further on the legal actions.
The resignations are seen as an effort to maintain transparency and accountability in the temple’s management, which oversees one of India’s most significant religious projects.
