Ram Temple Donation Embezzlement: Trust Officials Resign, Eight Arrested Amid Probe

Yesterday, eight people named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations were arrested.

NEW DELHI: Champat Rai has resigned as general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on moral grounds amid ongoing row over the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, news agency ANI reported. Meanwhile, trustee Anil Mishra also stepped down. The Uttar Pradesh government recently ordered a probe after allegations surfaced that devotees' offerings had been misappropriated. On Thursday, eight people named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations were arrested. All eight were associated with the process of counting cash and valuables received as donations at the temple. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, following recommendations made in the preliminary report of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Also read: Ram Temple 'donation theft' case: Who are the 8 accused named in FIR? All arrested According to news agency PTI, the accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to theft by a clerk or servant, criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Police said the accused were arrested in Ayodhya and are being questioned.

Donation controversy triggers political storm

The alleged irregularities have triggered sharp political reactions over the past two weeks. Former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in temple donations had been misappropriated. Following the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 after the Trust itself sought an investigation. The SIT, headed by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, examined donation collection, counting and storage procedures, scrutinised financial records and recorded statements from nearly 150 people associated with the temple administration. Also read: Sanjay Raut questions 'missing' 4 kg silver brick donated by Shiv Sena for Ram Mandir Officials said the preliminary report recommended administrative reforms to improve transparency and accountability, though its full contents have not been made public. A separate petition seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged financial irregularities was also mentioned before the Supreme Court. The court declined an oral request for urgent listing and asked the petitioner to mention the matter on June 29.

Calls for accountability

The controversy has prompted demands for action from opposition leaders. AAP MP Sanjay Singh has demanded the dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and sought an FIR against Champat Rai, alleging corruption in the handling of temple donations. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Uttar Pradesh government of attempting to shield "big fish" in the case and questioned the functioning of the SIT. However, Ram Temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Misra had defended Champat Rai's integrity in an interview to TOI, saying it "can never be questioned" given his decades-long association with the Ram temple movement. At the same time, Misra advocated the appointment of a full-time chief executive officer to oversee temple operations and improve transparency, while saying he could not vouch for all other senior office-bearers.