Trust Meeting Scheduled Amid Donation Theft Allegations
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will convene on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 3 PM at the Mani Ramdas Chavni ashram in Ayodhya. This marks the first gathering of trust members since allegations of financial irregularities involving donated cash and valuables surfaced. The agenda includes a preliminary report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the donation theft and a proposal to create a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position to manage temple affairs, according to an agenda reviewed by PTI.
Resignations and Investigations
The first of five agenda items is discussion of resignations submitted by general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Both, along with special invitee Gopal Rao, are under scrutiny following the theft allegations. Two parallel investigations are underway: one by the SIT, whose tenure has been extended until end of July, and another by the police. Statements from the three officials have been recorded by both agencies. No First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against them yet, but lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association have filed a written complaint seeking an FIR against Rai, Mishra, and Rao.
Financial Review and CEO Proposal
Other agenda points include discussion and approval of the unaudited income-expenses statement and balance sheet for fiscal year 2025-26, along with other financial details. The agenda was issued by treasurer Govind Dev Giri. The proposal to appoint a CEO aims to streamline management of the Ram Temple operations.
Trust Chief's Health and Arrests
Trust chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who attended previous meetings virtually due to age-related issues, is currently unwell and recovering at a hospital in Lucknow. A medical bulletin issued on Friday indicated he is expected to be discharged in two to three days. Meanwhile, eight individuals named in an FIR filed after the SIT's preliminary report have been arrested. They were initially remanded to 14-day judicial custody until July 23, but police later obtained custody remand for Avinash Shukla, a key accused. Police sources said important evidence linked to the donation theft was recovered from Shukla's house in Ayodhya.
