In brief
The trustees of the newly inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya have announced a complete leadership overhaul following allegations of theft among donated money. Champat Rai, the long‑served general secretary, stepped down and a former forest officer linked with the RSS was appointed interim chief. A Special Investigation Team has opened a probe and a court case has been filed, with police arresting eight individuals. The temple, which has attracted 50 million pilgrims since its January 2024 opening, has received 5.82 billion rupees in contributions but spends a portion on upkeep. The trust claims those who stole money were not members of the board and promises stringent actions to restore public trust.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced a sweeping leadership change after a former accounts supervisor accused the organisation of stealing millions of rupees from donation piles.
General Secretary Champat Rai resigned amid the scandal and a retired forest officer, Krishna Mohan, was named as interim chief. The trust has also created a new CEO position, setting up a panel for future appointments.
According to the trust, it has collected Rs 5.82 billion in offerings so far, spending Rs 3.19 billion on upkeep. Allegations suggest a smaller but significant sum – more than Rs 70 million – has gone missing, though the exact figure remains in dispute.
A three‑member Special Investigation Team was formed by the state government, and police have registered a case of alleged embezzlement, arresting eight suspects. The high‑court and supreme‑court were petitioned for a court‑monitored probe of the allegations.
The temple, built to replace the mosque that was demolished in 1992, draws roughly 50 million visitors annually and is central to Hindu worship and national politics. Its management’s response underscores a desire to restore its credibility in the eyes of devotees and the public.
