Krishna Mohan Appointed Interim Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Amid Embezzlement Controversy

Krishna Mohan has been appointed interim general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, replacing Champat Rai after the Trust accepted his resignation on Monday. Champat Rai stepped down citing moral responsibility amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Trustee Anil Mishra's resignation was also accepted during the Trust's meeting.

Speaking to reporters after being appointed interim general secretary Krishna Mohan said he had been entrusted with the responsibility until a permanent appointment is made. He also said the Trust would ensure strict action against anyone found guilty in the alleged donation embezzlement case. "I have been entrusted with the responsibility of discharging the duties of general secretary in an acting capacity until a new General Secretary is appointed. Anyone found guilty in this matter, we will insist and remain firm in our insistence that they receive appropriate punishment in accordance with justice," he said.

"We are all deeply pained by the events that have transpired; everyone has suffered, including the devotees of Ram. There were certain shortcomings in management and operations that were exploited by others. Therefore, my primary endeavour will be to plug these loopholes and rectify errors. I will make every effort to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future," he added.

He added that the controversy had affected the Trust's public image and said efforts would be made to restore people's confidence. "The prevailing atmosphere has somewhat tarnished the image of our Trust, giving rise to a sense of mistrust within society. We will take all necessary steps to dispel this negative perception and rebuild trust within the community," Krishna Mohan said.

Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, successor to Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, also confirmed the decision. "Krishna Mohan has been entrusted with the responsibility of Interim general secretary. Gopal Rao was not called to the meeting. Champat Rai was also not present in the meeting," he said.

The decision was taken during a three-hour meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya. Seven of the Trust's nine permanent members, including chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, attended the meeting, while Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were absent.

Who is Krishna Mohan

Krishna Mohan is a permanent trustee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer. A native of Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, the 73-year-old joined the Trust as a permanent member in September 2025, replacing late trustee Kameshwar Chaupal. He was inducted from the same community as Chaupal. Krishna Mohan has since been involved in the Trust's administrative affairs. Following the resignation of Champat Rai, he has now been entrusted with the additional responsibility of serving as the interim general secretary until a permanent appointment is made.

Why did Champat Rai resign

Champat Rai offered to resign as general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on moral grounds following allegations of embezzlement involving donations made by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Trustee Anil Mishra also submitted his resignation. The Uttar Pradesh government ordered a probe after allegations surfaced that donations had been misappropriated. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, and its preliminary findings led to the registration of an FIR. Last week, eight people named in the FIR were arrested. They are accused of being involved in the counting and handling of cash and valuables received as donations at the temple and have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including theft, criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. The controversy has sparked a political row, with opposition parties demanding greater accountability, while the Trust has maintained that the matter should be thoroughly investigated and administrative reforms implemented to improve transparency.