The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday, 7 July 2025, accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid a controversy over alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations in Ayodhya. Even as the Trust moved to appoint a new interim head, several seers and trust members publicly stated that Champat Rai's exit was neither warranted nor welcomed.

Seers Push Back on Champat Rai's Exit

Mahant Kamal Nayan Das Ji Maharaj, the designated successor to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, said the allegations against the Trust's leadership were baseless. 'Baseless allegations were spread everywhere, claiming, ‘We donated this, it has been stolen, it has been stolen.’ Every item that was offered has been produced before everyone along with the registers,' he said.

'Everything is safe and secure. The items were also displayed for the media to inspect. Even all the registers were placed before them. Whatever was donated is here, including the cash. You can verify everything. No one wanted this. Not just the trustees, but no one in Ayodhya wanted it. Nobody wished for Champat Rai to resign,' he added.

Trust member Dinendra Das echoed this view, saying, 'Regarding Champat Rai ji’s resignation, everyone has said that there was no mistake on his part. I also said there was no mistake, so his resignation should not have been accepted. But we were told that he had submitted it in writing, so it had to be accepted.'

Dinendra Das also raised questions about selective accountability, noting, 'If Anil Mishra is considered at fault, then Gopal Das, who was with him, should also be held responsible.'

Trust Accepts Resignations, Appoints Interim Chief

The Trust meeting, chaired by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and attended by members including Vishwaprasannatirth and Swami Parmanand Giri, was convened to deliberate on the fallout of the alleged donation embezzlement case. The resignations were accepted on moral grounds, in accordance with the Trust's constitution.

Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Krishna Mohan has been appointed as the interim General Secretary to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the Trust. Notably, Krishna Mohan had earlier filed the complaint on which police registered an FIR, triggering the probe.

The Donation Scandal: How It Unfolded

The controversy first surfaced prominently in June 2026 when discrepancies in donation counting came to light. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government conducted a preliminary probe and recommended action.

On 25 June 2026, an FIR was registered at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station based on Krishna Mohan's complaint. The FIR named eight individuals, including close aides linked to Champat Rai, such as his driver Tinnu Yadav (also known as Ramashankar Yadav).

The other accused included Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra — all trust employees — and retired bank official Subhash Srivastava. All eight were arrested in swift police action, their premises were raided, and land deals linked to the Trust are also reportedly under the scanner.

A Dissenting Voice Welcomes the Change

Manish Das, Mahant of Patthar Temple, described the developments as 'unfortunate' but welcomed the Trust's decision as a reflection of accountability. 'Champat Rai set an example of moral responsibility, and that is how it should have been. It was his responsibility to resign on moral grounds, and the fact that he did so is welcome,' he said.

What Comes Next

The appointment of Krishna Mohan as interim General Secretary marks the beginning of a transitional phase for the Trust, which oversees one of India's most prominent religious sites. The broader investigation into alleged donation mismanagement, land deals, and the conduct of trust employees remains ongoing. How the Trust navigates this period of scrutiny will likely shape public confidence in the management of the Ram Temple for years to come.