Ram Temple Trust Leaders Resign Amid Donation Theft Probe, 8 Arrested

In a significant development concerning the revered Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, its General Secretary, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra have tendered their resignations. This move comes amidst an escalating controversy surrounding alleged large-scale embezzlement of donations made by devotees for the construction of the Ram Temple. Multiple credible sources have corroborated these resignations, which the Trust has confirmed receiving and will consider at its next meeting on July 11, 2026. The donation theft allegations first surfaced around June 7, 2026, when former Samajwadi Party MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, claimed that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations had been misappropriated from the Ram Mandir. This rapidly escalated into a major political and administrative controversy in Uttar Pradesh. Following these claims, the Uttar Pradesh government acted swiftly, constituting a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13, 2026, at the explicit request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself, to probe the alleged scam. The SIT's preliminary report, submitted to the government on June 23, 2026, uncovered startling findings, revealing blatant violations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the temple's donation management system. These violations included lapses in deploying security guards during the counting process, insufficient frisking of personnel entering and leaving counting rooms, and a failure to preserve CCTV footage for the stipulated 180 days. The report highlighted that SOPs, which were reportedly finalized in 2025 after trust officials suspected irregularities, were not adhered to. Based on the SIT's recommendations and the evidence gathered, an FIR was registered on June 25, 2026, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to criminal conspiracy, theft by a servant, criminal breach of trust, and dishonestly receiving stolen property. Subsequently, eight individuals named in the FIR, all associated with the process of counting cash and valuables received as donations, were arrested on June 26, 2026. Among those arrested is Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, who was reportedly a former driver for General Secretary Champat Rai. Other accused include Anukalp Mishra (identified as a mastermind from whose residence ₹20 lakh was recovered), Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Subhash Srivastava (who supervised cash counting), Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra. Roughly ₹80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency have been recovered from six of the eight accused so far, with all of them sent to judicial custody until June 29, 2026. Champat Rai, a veteran leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), has served as the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust since its formation in 2020. He has been a prominent face of the Trust, overseeing the temple's construction. Anil Mishra, also a long-time RSS associate and a trustee, was notably chosen as the 'Pradhan Yajman' (main host) for the pre-consecration rituals of the Ram Temple in January 2024. While no direct allegations have been made against Rai or Mishra, their resignations are seen as taking moral responsibility amidst the deepening controversy. In its official statement, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust expressed deep shock and sadness over the incidents. The Trust reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair investigation and restoring the confidence of millions of devotees. Furthermore, the Trust assured the public that all donations, including silver bricks, jewellery, and other offerings, are safe and fully accounted for. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also taken a strong stance, asserting a 'zero-tolerance' policy and promising that those found guilty will not be spared, emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity of Lord Ram and the faith of devotees. The controversy has also drawn significant political reactions. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, have questioned the handling of the donations and called for higher-level probes, with some demanding the dissolution of the Trust. The case underscores the intense scrutiny surrounding the management of funds for the highly significant Ram Temple project, which saw a massive influx of devotees and donations, especially following its grand consecration on January 22, 2024. Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are ongoing, with further investigations expected to determine the full extent of the alleged embezzlement and any broader involvement.

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