Ram temple trust receives resignations from Champat Rai and Anil Mishra amid donation probe

Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust receives resignations from Champat Rai and Anil Mishra amid Ram Temple donation probe, FIR filed, 8 arrested.

Ayodhya: The resignation of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr Anil Mishra over the alleged Ram temple donation scam was not a sudden development. According to sources, the script for their exit was written during a meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Haridwar earlier this month, where senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders expressed serious concern over the controversy and the damage it was causing to the temple's image.RSS Chief Sought Details on Donation IrregularitiesSources said a two-day VHP meeting was held in Haridwar on June 18 and 19 and was attended by Champat Rai and VHP leader Gopal Rao from Ayodhya. During the meeting, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale sought a detailed account of the alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings at the Ram temple.Senior RSS leaders reportedly reprimanded Champat Rai and Dr Anil Mishra over the controversy, saying the allegations had tarnished the image of the temple and provided ammunition to political opponents. According to sources, the RSS leadership made it clear that accountability had to be fixed and that the trust could not be seen as obstructing an impartial investigation.Pressure Mounted on Rai After Haridwar MeetingThe pressure on Champat Rai increased after the Haridwar meeting. Senior RSS and VHP functionaries gradually distanced themselves from him and discussions began on whether the trust's top office-bearers should step aside to facilitate a fair probe.The first public indication of this distancing came on June 19 when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ayodhya. Sources said Champat Rai was kept away from the chief minister's engagements, an unusual development given his central role in temple affairs.SIT Findings Fueled Social Media CriticismThe situation became more difficult after the Special Investigation Team's preliminary findings pointed to irregularities in the management of donations and offerings. Although the FIR registered by the police named eight accused, it did not include the trust's senior office-bearers, triggering criticism on social media and allegations from opposition parties that influential people were being protected.According to sources, the final push came on the night of June 25. Senior RSS and VHP leaders remained in touch with Champat Rai and conveyed that stepping down was necessary to contain the controversy and protect the credibility of both the temple trust and the Sangh Parivar. The message, sources said, was unambiguous: resignations were needed so that the investigation could proceed without questions being raised over its impartiality.Rai and Mishra Submitted Resignations on FridayOn Friday morning, after performing prayers, Champat Rai reached Mani Ram Das Ki Chhawani and called trustee Dr Anil Mishra there. Around 11 am, the two leaders submitted their resignations to trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.Champat Rai And Anil Mishra Resign From Ram Temple Trust Over Donation Theft RowThe resignations also came against the backdrop of growing disquiet among seers and religious leaders. During the Haridwar meeting, several saints reportedly demanded not only an investigation into the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust but also an audit of the accounts of other bodies associated with the Ram temple movement.The fallout from the donation controversy also forced the VHP to postpone its four-day Central Management Committee meeting, scheduled to begin in Ayodhya on June 26. The meeting, to be attended by representatives from 44 provinces, was deferred amid fears that the issue could dominate proceedings and deepen the embarrassment for the organisation.For the RSS and VHP leadership, sources said, the resignation of Champat Rai and Dr Anil Mishra was seen as a necessary damage-control measure to protect the credibility of the Ram temple project, one of the Sangh's most significant ideological and political achievements.

Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday confirmed that its general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Dr Anil Mishra have resigned from their respective posts in the wake of the alleged Ram temple donation theft controversy. The trust said the two leaders stepped down to ensure an impartial investigation into the matter.Trust Expresses Sorrow Over Recent IncidentsIn an official statement issued by the trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri, the trust said it was "deeply saddened, distressed and concerned" by the incidents that had surfaced over the past few days and was committed to restoring the trust of Ram devotees.The statement said, " Shri Champat Rai and trustee Shri Anil Mishra have resigned from their positions. The trust will consider their resignations in its next meeting."Trust Assures Devotees of Safe Donation AccountingAppealing to devotees to maintain faith in the institution, the trust said all offerings and jewellery donated by devotees were safely accounted for and that a proper inventory existed.The trust also referred to the ongoing probe into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations. It said an FIR had been registered on the basis of the preliminary report of the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government at the trust's request and that legal proceedings were underway.Unseeded Gandhar Patwardhan Stuns Fifth Seed Vivaan Waingankar In Maharashtra Badminton TourneyThe statement asserted that no effort would be spared to ensure that no guilty person escaped punishment and urged people not to fall prey to rumours or attempts by vested interests to defame Sanatan Dharma.The resignations come amid mounting scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations received at the Ram temple. An FIR was registered on Thursday based on a complaint filed by trust member Krishna Mohan following the SIT's preliminary findings. Eight accused have already been arrested in connection with the case.Champat Rai has been one of the most prominent faces of the Ram temple movement and has served as the trust's general secretary since its formation in February 2020, while Anil Mishra has been a key trustee associated with the temple project. Their exit marks the biggest leadership shake-up in the trust since the consecration of the Ram temple in January 2024.

The resignation of two prominent officials from the Ram temple trust in Ayodhya, led by general secretary Champat Rai, has generated discussions after an FIR was filed by a trust member. Treasurer Govind Dev Giri confirmed the resignations, emphasizing that all donations are safe and urging calm among devotees while vowing to investigate the matter openly for complete transparency.

The general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, and its member Anil Mishra have tendered their resignation, the Trust said on Saturday and assured that a fair inquiry will be conducted into allegations related to the Ram temple donations. A statement from the temple Trust, issued by its treasurer Govind Dev Giri, said that the Trust has received the two resignations and will take a decision on them at its next meeting on July 11. The Trust said that they are shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by the recent developments and are duty-bound to ensure that a fair inquiry is conducted and the faith of devotees is restored. Eight persons named in an FIR over the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya were arrested on Thursday night, according to police.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has received resignations from General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amidst allegations of donation embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The trust assures devotees their offerings are safe and accounted for, while confirming an FIR has been registered following an SIT probe. Legal proceedings are underway to address the controversy and restore public confidence.