Authorities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India, announced a leadership overhaul on July 7, 2026, following allegations of theft involving millions in donations. The trust managing the shrine accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai amidst a police investigation into the claims.
Leadership Changes at the Ram Temple Trust
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held a meeting where it was revealed that Rai and another official, Anil Mishra, resigned after police filed a complaint on June 25. Krishna Mohan, a retired forest officer and member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was named as the interim general secretary.
During a press conference, trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri stated, “Our priority is to identify and close any loophole so such incidents are never repeated.” The trust's credibility has been questioned following the allegations, which emerged from a former accounts supervisor who claims he was dismissed for raising concerns.
Allegations of Donation Mismanagement
Reports indicate that the trust has received approximately 5.82 billion rupees (around $61 million) in donations from devotees by March 31, 2026, spending about 3.19 billion rupees on the temple's upkeep. The allegations surfaced after a former official claimed more than 70 million rupees (about $739,550) went missing.
