- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Ram Mandir Trust meeting held over donation embezzlement.
- Trust expressed faith in ongoing SIT investigation.
- Champat Rai, Anil Mishra resignations likely considered.
An important meeting of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra was held in Ayodhya over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir. The meeting was presided over by trust chief Mahant Nrityagopal Das of Mani Ram Das Chhavni. During the meeting, the trust accepted the resignations of temple trust secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra after their role came under the scanner.
Earlier in the day, Mahant Nrityagopal Das also issued a letter expressing resentment over the incident and also expressed faith in Prime Minister Modi and CM Yogi, saying that whoever is involved in this incident will get severe punishment.
Speaking about the meeting that lasted for over two hours, Trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri said, "It was decided to hold the scheduled Trust meeting—originally set for July 11—as early as possible; consequently, acting on information shared with everyone, we convened it today, July 6. The meeting was attended by the revered Chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Ji Maharaj, the revered Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj, Yug Purush Parmanand Ji Maharaj, Vishwa Prasanna Tirtha Ji Maharaj of Pejawar, our new trustee Krishna Mohan Ji, and the District Collector of Ayodhya, Shashank Tripathi Ji."
Champat Rai was pained, didn't want to be general secretary: Trust treasurer
Speaking about the two resignations, Giri said that Champat Rai tendered his resignation as he was pained and felt it inappropriate to remain the general secretary until justice is served.
He said, "Given the prevailing circumstances, a critical situation arose: our General Secretary, Champat Rai, and Trustee Anil Ji Mishra submitted their resignations. Champat Rai, serving as General Secretary, was deeply pained; he felt it inappropriate to continue in his role until justice is fully served—meaning the culprits are apprehended and receive appropriate punishment. Driven by this sentiment, he tendered his resignation—a matter that was not ours to simply accept or reject. K. Parasaran raised a significant point: under the Trust's constitution, a resignation is deemed accepted the moment it is submitted."
The trust has also decided to give additional duty to Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary in place of Rai.
3-member panel to pick board of trustees
Giri further added that it was decided to form a three-member committee to interview various candidates. The panel will include retired Justice Pradeep Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and Suresh Havare, who successfully managed the Shirdi institution for ten years. The panel will submit the names to the trust, after which final selection will be made.
"It has been decided that, while the Board of Trustees will be fully constituted, a three-member committee has been appointed to present names to us. This committee comprises retired Justice Pradeep Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and Suresh ji Havare, who successfully managed the Shirdi institution for ten years. We have finalised this three-member committee; they will interview various candidates and submit names to us, from which we will make the final selection," Swami Govind Dev Giri added.
SBI's role questioned
The trust treasurer also cornered the State Bank of India, which was involved in donation management work. He said, "A complete overhaul will certainly be undertaken. I must also point out that State Bank of India (SBI) should not have shirked its responsibility in this matter; since the work was carried out in collaboration with SBI, they also bore responsibility, and we have had to suffer the severe consequences of their lack of oversight. In my view, the FIR should actually have been filed by SBI, not by our Trust, though the well-intentioned members of our Trust went ahead and filed it themselves. The responsibility is truly theirs...We are determined to do so and will adopt a process that leaves absolutely no room for doubt. We will take appropriate measures, seek guidance from all concerned, and fully restore the reputation of the Ram Mandir, which has been tarnished"
Trust expresses confidence in SIT
During the meeting, the trust expressed faith in the ongoing SIT investigation ordered by the UP government. There are a total of 15 members in the Trust, of which one post is vacant due to the death of Raja Ayodhya Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra.
Rai and Mishra, who have submitted that resignation, did not participate in the trust meeting. It is being reported that some trustees had stipulated that the meeting would only be held if these two were absent.
UP Additional Chief Secretary (Home) joins meeting
Sanjay Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Uttar Pradesh, participated in the meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust via video conferencing.
Trustees Jagadguru Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Yugpurusha Swami Paramananda and Krishnamohan are also present at the meeting. Nripendra Mishra and senior advocate trustee K Parasaran also attended the meeting virtually.
(With inputs from Ajay Srivastava)