In brief
India’s iconic Ram temple in Ayodhya has begun a sweeping leadership overhaul following serious allegations that donors’ contributions were misappropriated. The trust that runs the shrine accepted the resignation of General Secretary Champat Rai and installed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan in his place. Police have registered a case of alleged embezzlement, and eight individuals are under scrutiny. The trust has disclosed that it collected 5.82 bn rupees ($61 m) up to March 2026 and spent 3.19 bn rupees on shrine upkeep. A new CEO position will be established and recommendations for future governance to be made by a three‑member panel.
Authorities at the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya have announced a sweeping leadership overhaul after allegations that tens of millions of rupees received as donations were stolen.
The trust that manages the shrine said it had accepted the resignation of General Secretary Champat Rai and installed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan, a former RSS official, as interim general secretary. A new CEO post is being created, and a three‑member panel will recommend future leaders.
The Temple Trust, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024, draws roughly 50 million visitors annually. It has collected 5.82 bn rupees ($61 m) in donations up to March 2026 and spent 3.19 bn rupees ($33 m) on shrine upkeep.
A former accounts supervisor alleged that money and valuables were taken from donation boxes. The claims prompted the state government to set up a three‑member Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT’s interim report led to a police case naming eight people, who were arrested and are under questioning.
Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri said Rai and another official, Anil Mishra, had resigned after police lodged a complaint on 25 June. Giri also noted that the theft allegations have damaged the trust’s reputation and sparked public distrust.
The trust plans to meet again on 22 July, expecting the police to submit its final report by then. Giri described the incident as “deeply painful and shameful” for devotees, stressing that the trust acknowledges its failure to safeguard the donated funds.
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