Ayodhya temple trust names interim general secretary after donation theft probe

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced on Monday that general secretary Champat Rai and official Anil Mishra resigned after police filed a complaint on 25 June over alleged thefts from donation collections at the Ayodhya temple; the trust named retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary and said a three-member panel will propose candidates for a new CEO post.

The development came during the trust’s first meeting following allegations that cash, jewellery and other offerings had been stolen while being counted. Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri gave the update at a press conference and said the resignations followed the filing of the complaint and subsequent arrests linked to the case.

Authorities earlier set up a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) after a former accounts supervisor raised concerns and alleged he was dismissed for reporting the irregularities. Following an interim SIT report, Ayodhya police registered an embezzlement case naming eight people, who were arrested and are being questioned.

Giri detailed the temple’s collections, saying the trust received 5.82bn rupees from devotees up to 31 March 2026 and had spent 3.19bn rupees on the shrine’s upkeep. He did not specify the value of items alleged to be stolen but demanded strict action against those involved and stressed the damage to devotees’ sentiments and the institution’s credibility.

Krishna Mohan, who is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said his priority was to identify and close any loopholes so such incidents are not repeated. He added that the allegations had harmed the trust’s image and public trust in the institution.

The accusations originated from a former accounts supervisor’s claims and expanded into a wider political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the handling of the temple’s cash and valuables. Petitions have been filed in the state high court and the Supreme Court requesting a court-monitored federal police investigation.

A former city legislator alleged more than 70m rupees is missing, though Champat Rai had earlier rejected claims of improper handling. Giri said the trustees themselves did not commit the theft and suggested the wrongdoing was carried out by those trusted by Rai.

The trust said it would meet again on 22 July and expected the police to submit a final report by then. Meanwhile, a new CEO post has been created and a three-member panel will recommend names for the role.