The governing body of India's landmark Ram temple has undergone significant changes following allegations of theft involving donated funds. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, responsible for managing the shrine, held its first meeting Monday after accusations of donation thefts surfaced last month.
While the trust initially denied any wrongdoing, the state government established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the claims. Based on an interim SIT report, Ayodhya police registered a case of alleged embezzlement against eight individuals, who were subsequently arrested and are undergoing questioning.
Following the trust's meeting, treasurer Govind Dev Giri announced that two officials, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, had resigned after a police complaint was lodged on June 25. Krishna Mohan, a retired forest officer and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been appointed as the interim general secretary. Giri also stated that a new chief executive officer (CEO) position has been created, and a three-member panel will be formed to recommend candidates for the role.
Dev Giri reported that the trust had received 5.82 billion rupees (approximately $61 million) in donations from devotees until March 31, 2026, and had spent 3.19 billion rupees (approximately $33.48 million) on the shrine's upkeep. The allegations of theft were reportedly made by a former accounts supervisor who claimed he was dismissed after raising concerns internally. These claims led to a political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the management of cash, jewelry, gold, and silver donated to the temple.
Petitions have been filed in the state high court and the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation by federal police. While the exact amount of stolen money remains unclear, one former city legislator has alleged that over 70 million rupees (approximately $739,550) are missing. Champat Rai had previously denied that donations were mishandled.
At Monday's press conference, Giri emphasized the damage to the trust's image and the sentiments of devotees, stating that the atmosphere created by the allegations was more hurtful than the potential scale of the theft. He described the incident as "deeply painful and shameful." Giri clarified that the temple trustees were not involved in the theft, attributing the betrayal to individuals trusted and employed by Champat Rai.
The trust is scheduled to meet again on July 22, with the expectation that the police will have submitted their final report by that time. Krishna Mohan stated his priority is to identify and close any loopholes to prevent future incidents. He acknowledged that the allegations have impacted the trust's image and generated distrust within society.