The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the newly inaugurated Ram temple in Ayodhya, has replaced its general secretary following accusations that millions of rupees were siphoned from donation boxes.
On Monday, the trust accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and appointed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as the interim general secretary. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government has named eight suspects and police have arrested them, charging embezzlement under the Emergency Regulation (Vigilance) Act.
During a press conference, trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri said the temple had received 5.82 billion rupees ($61 million) in donations to date, of which 3.19 billion rupees ($33 million) had been spent on the shrine’s upkeep. However, the firm has not released a definitive figure for the alleged loss; earlier estimates by a former city legislator pointed to more than 70 million rupees ($740 000) missing.
The allegations stem from a former accounts supervisor who claimed he was dismissed after raising concerns about improper handling of cash, jewellery, gold and silver donated by devotees. Opposition parties have called for a federal police investigation monitored by the judiciary, and the trust has announced a new CEO post and a panel to recommend a candidate.
The temple, inaugurated in January 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has become a major pilgrimage site, attracting about 50 million visitors annually. The theft incident, however, has tarnished the trust’s reputation and eroded trust among the faithful.
