The controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has taken a dramatic turn, with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary ‘Champat Rai’ and Member Trustee ‘Anil Mishra’ stepping down from their respective posts, citing moral responsibility. Their resignations come amid mounting public scrutiny and an ongoing investigation into what is being described as one of the biggest administrative crises faced by the Ram Temple Trust since the temple’s inauguration.
The issue first came to light after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in cash and valuables donated by devotees had been siphoned off. The allegations triggered widespread outrage and prompted the Trust itself to seek an independent investigation to establish the facts.
Responding to the growing controversy, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13–14. Headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, the committee was tasked with auditing the collection, counting, storage, and banking of temple donations.
According to the SIT’s preliminary findings, investigators identified several serious administrative shortcomings. These included inadequate CCTV surveillance, weak monitoring of donation handling, poor background verification of employees involved in cash management, and significant gaps in the process of transferring donations from the temple premises to designated bank accounts. Investigators concluded that these loopholes created opportunities for alleged theft and financial irregularities.
Following the SIT’s initial report, Ayodhya Police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Trust member Krishna Mohan. Police subsequently arrested eight individuals, all of whom were employees directly associated with counting cash and managing offerings made by devotees.
Among those arrested are Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, and Ramashankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, who reportedly served as a former driver for Champat Rai. The accused have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and theft by a servant. Investigators have reportedly relied on CCTV footage that allegedly captured portions of the misappropriation.
Although neither Champat Rai nor Anil Mishra has been named as an accused in the FIR, both leaders chose to resign, stating that they were accepting moral responsibility for the administrative failures that occurred under their supervision. Their decision has been viewed by many as an attempt to uphold institutional accountability while allowing the investigation to proceed without controversy over their continued leadership.
The developments have also sparked an intense political debate. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance policy toward any misuse of devotees’ faith or temple funds. He assured that anyone found guilty would face strict legal action while accusing opposition parties of attempting to politicize the issue.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, questioned the scope of the investigation. They alleged that the arrests of lower-level employees alone were insufficient and demanded a wider probe into senior management, calling the initial action an “eyewash.”
The controversy has also prompted calls for structural reforms within the Trust. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)International President Alok Kumar suggested that the Trust should appoint experienced professionals to oversee temple administration and strengthen financial safeguards. Echoing similar concerns, Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra defended Champat Rai’s personal integrity but supported the idea of appointing a full-time professional CEO to modernize operations and ensure greater transparency.
As the investigation continues, the Ram Temple donation controversy has evolved beyond a criminal case into a broader debate over accountability, governance, and the protection of public trust in one of India’s most revered religious institutions.
