In brief
Following claims that millions of rupees were taken from donation boxes at the newly inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has accepted the resignation of its general secretary and named a temporary replacement. A special investigation team and local police have opened a probe and arrested eight individuals. The trust said it has gathered more than 5.8 bn rupees in donations up to March 2026, spending just over 3 bn on maintenance. The controversy has spurred calls from opposition parties for a federal police inquiry and raised questions over the management of donations to a politically sensitive site.
Authorities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya announced a leadership overhaul after allegations that millions of rupees donated for the shrine may have been stolen.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, an independent body that manages the temple, accepted the resignation of its general secretary Champat Rai and appointed an interim official. The new interim general secretary was named Krishna Mohan, a retired forest officer and member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The trust had earlier denied any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the state government established a three‑member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the claims. Following a preliminary SIT report, Ayodhya police registered a case of alleged embezzlement, naming eight individuals, who were subsequently arrested and are now under questioning.
At a press conference following the trust’s first meeting after the allegations surfaced last month, treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the trust had collected 5.82 bn rupees ($61 m) from devotees up to 31 March 2026, spending 3.19 bn rupees ($33.5 m) on the shrine’s upkeep.
Giri emphasized that the alleged theft had damaged the trust’s reputation and sowed distrust among devotees. He called for strict action against those involved, while stating that the trust itself was not responsible.
The allegations came from a former accounts supervisor who claimed he was dismissed for raising concerns about improper handling of donations. His complaints sparked a broader political debate, with opposition parties questioning how cash, jewellery, gold and silver were managed.
Petitions were filed in the state high court and Supreme Court seeking a court‑supervised investigation by the federal police. Though the exact amount of stolen money is unclear, a former city legislator has claimed that more than 70 m rupees ($739,550) have gone missing.
The trust’s next meeting is scheduled for 22 July, at which point police are expected to submit a final report.
