In brief
The trustees of Ayodhya’s newly inaugurated Ram Mandir announced a leadership shake‑up after a former accounts supervisor claimed that tens of millions of rupees were stolen from donation boxes. The trust accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and named retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as an interim chief. A special investigation team was already probing the claims, and police have arrested eight people after filing an embezzlement case. The trust cites it received 5.82 bn rupees in offerings up to March 2026, spending 3.19 bn on upkeep, but cannot disclose the exact amount lost.
Background
In January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a site that had been the focus of national debate since the 1992 mosque‑demolition riots. The temple now welcomes around 50 million visitors annually.
Allegations of theft
A former accounts supervisor, after alleging that donations were being mishandled, was dismissed from the trust. He later claimed that more than 70 m rupees had gone missing during counting, a figure that equates to about 740 k USD.
The allegations led to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) being formed. Subsequently, police registered an embezzlement case, arrested eight individuals, and are questioning them.
Leadership overhaul
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust held its first meeting that week after receiving the allegations. It accepted the resignation of General Secretary Champat Rai and appointed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan—an RSS veteran—as interim general secretary.
The trust also announced the creation of a new CEO position and will have a three‑member panel nominate a candidate. Giri, the treasurer, said the trust had accumulated 5.82 bn rupees in donations up to March 31, 2026, and spent 3.19 bn rupees on shrine maintenance.
Impact and next steps
Giri stated the trust’s main concern is restoring devotees’ confidence. The trust scheduled its next meeting for July 22, hoping for the SIT to deliver a final report by then. The incident has stirred political debate, with opposition parties urging stricter oversight.
