Donation Theft Row: Ram Temple Trust Accepts Key Resignations, Appoints Interim General Secretary

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra , taking its biggest administrative step yet in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case. During a crucial meeting in Ayodhya , the Trust also appointed Krishna Mohan as the interim general secretary , signalling an effort to restore confidence as the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of devotees' donations continues.

The high level meeting, held inside the Ram Janmabhoomi complex , lasted for nearly three hours and reviewed the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, deliberated on the resignations of Rai and Mishra, and discussed the Trust's future administrative structure. Seven of the Trust's nine permanent members, including chairman Nritya Gopal Das , attended the meeting, while Rai and Mishra remained absent.

Confirming the decisions after the meeting, Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri said both resignations had been accepted and Krishna Mohan had been entrusted with additional responsibilities as interim general secretary until further arrangements are made.

Earlier in the day, Nritya Gopal Das broke his silence on the controversy, saying he was "deeply hurt" by the alleged theft of donations offered by devotees at the Ram Lalla Temple . Calling the incident deeply painful, he demanded the strictest punishment for those responsible and expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , saying every person involved would be brought to justice. He also urged political parties not to seek mileage from an issue linked to the faith of millions of Hindus.

Meanwhile, Govind Dev Giri distanced himself from the controversy, reiterating that he had no role in the daily collection or counting of temple donations and asserting that all audit records remain intact. Describing the allegations as "heartbreaking", he backed a fair and impartial investigation and said no guilty person should be spared.

The SIT, constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted its preliminary report last month, leading to the registration of an FIR and the arrest of eight people allegedly involved in the embezzlement. Investigators have also recovered deleted CCTV footage that allegedly shows suspects concealing currency notes while removing donations from the temple premises.

Although no FIR has been registered against Champat Rai , Anil Mishra , or special invitee Gopal Rao , lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association have submitted a complaint seeking action against them.