Resignations Rock Ram Temple Trust Amid Donation Scandal: What’s Next?

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is reeling from a massive donation scandal, forcing the resignations of its General Secretary, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra, amidst the arrest of eight individuals and the recovery of nearly ₹80 lakh in embezzled funds. This dramatic fallout comes after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) exposed shocking lapses in fund management and blatant violations of security protocols at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The controversy, which surfaced in early June, has intensified with the SIT preliminary report detailing how donations were allegedly siphoned off, flagging at least 70 instances of potential theft observed in CCTV footage over three months. Critical Standard Operating Procedures, from mandating pocket-less clothes for cash-counting staff to proper CCTV retention, were reportedly ignored. Adding to the fire, one of the arrested, Ramashankar Yadav, Champat Rai former driver, allegedly had unauthorized access to donation boxes. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, are now demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation and the dissolution of the Trust, raising significant questions about accountability at one of India's most revered religious sites. As the eight accused remain in judicial custody until Monday, June 29, the Supreme Court is set to consider a petition for an independent, court-monitored probe, which could further broaden the scope of the investigation. The Trust's treasurer, Govind Dev Giri, has vowed a thorough inquiry to restore devotee faith, assuring that all personally donated valuables like silver bricks are secure. However, the immediate future of the Trust's leadership and the full extent of financial irregularities will remain under intense scrutiny as more details are expected to emerge from the ongoing legal proceedings and potential further interrogations.