Ayodhya seers back Champat Rai, urge Ram Temple Trust to reject resignation
Synopsis
Ayodhya's seer community has drawn a line in the sand: Champat Rai must not go. With saints alleging a 'conspiracy to loot the Ram Temple' and a crucial Trust meeting set for 6 July, the controversy over donation fund irregularities is fast becoming a test of who controls the governance — and the narrative — of India's most politically charged religious institution.
Key Takeaways
Ayodhya seers on 4 July held a press conference backing Champat Rai and urged the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust not to accept his resignation.
Saints called the allegations against Champat Rai 'baseless' and alleged a conspiracy to remove him from his post.
Champat Rai had himself sought an SIT inquiry into the controversy, which the seers cited as proof of his transparency.
Seers also raised questions at Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri over the safeguarding of donation funds and the early scheduling of a Trust meeting.
The Trust is set to hold a crucial meeting on 6 July to consider the resignations of Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra and review the SIT probe.
The seer community in Ayodhya on Saturday, 4 July rallied behind Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, demanding that his resignation not be accepted and declaring the allegations against him baseless. The show of support came amid a deepening controversy over alleged irregularities in the management of temple donation funds and an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
Seers Assert Champat Rai's Integrity
Addressing a press conference in Ayodhya, the seers expressed unconditional faith in Champat Rai's honesty and long-standing commitment to the Ram Mandir movement. They argued that the charges levelled against him were fabricated and designed to damage his public standing.
The saints pointed to Champat Rai's own conduct as evidence of his transparency — he had himself sought an SIT inquiry into the matter, a move the seers said demonstrated he had nothing to conceal and no objection to a thorough investigation. They also noted that despite the controversy swirling around him, he exercised restraint and refrained from making public statements.
Questions Directed at Trust Treasurer
The seers did not limit their remarks to defending Champat Rai. They also raised pointed questions before Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, asking why adequate precautions had allegedly not been taken to safeguard the temple's donation funds. They further questioned why a proposed Trust meeting had been convened ahead of schedule and what circumstances necessitated the decision.
The saints stressed that the Ram Mandir is a centre of faith for crores of devotees across India, and that complete transparency in all matters related to the temple is non-negotiable to prevent confusion and erode public trust.
Saints Speak Out in Support
Several seers reiterated their position individually. Saint Raghavesh Das Vedanti said, 'The saints of Ayodhya are demanding from the Trust that Champat Rai Ji's resignation should not be accepted... Those accused who have been caught by the SIT have been taken into remand. After a few days, the report will come, and everything will become clear.'
Mahant Shashikant Das of Ram Kachahari Temple was more direct, alleging a conspiracy: 'Champat Ji is being declared guilty, which is completely baseless. Champat Ji has no fault in this. There is a major conspiracy to remove him so that the actual culprits can loot the Ram Temple.'
Mahant Vaidehi Vallabh Sharan of Vaidehi Bhawan also backed Champat Rai, saying, 'Every pracharak of the Sangh is honest. The Sangh's pracharaks are dedicated and steadfast. There are just a few clouds that will soon pass away.'
Crucial Trust Meeting on 6 July
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on 6 July, at which members will formally consider the resignations submitted by both Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra. The meeting will also deliberate on the SIT probe into the alleged irregularities in donation collection and temple fund management.
The outcome of the 6 July meeting — and the SIT's findings in the weeks ahead — will determine whether the controversy marks a turning point in the governance of one of India's most prominent religious institutions.
Point of View
Not just faith. The allegation of a 'conspiracy to loot the Ram Temple,' voiced at a formal press conference, is a serious charge that the Trust cannot simply absorb with silence. What is notable is that the seers directed pointed questions at Treasurer Govind Dev Giri rather than exclusively defending Champat Rai — suggesting the controversy has exposed fault lines within the Trust itself. The SIT probe's findings will ultimately determine whether this is a crisis of one official's conduct or of the institution's oversight architecture.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have Ayodhya seers come out in support of Champat Rai?
The seers say the allegations against Champat Rai are baseless and part of a deliberate attempt to defame him. They point to his decades-long association with the Ram Mandir movement and his own request for an SIT inquiry as evidence of his transparency and integrity.
What is the SIT probe into the Ram Mandir Trust about?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing alleged irregularities in the collection and management of donation funds at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Several accused have reportedly been taken into remand, and the investigation is ongoing.
What will be decided at the Trust meeting on 6 July?
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to meet on 6 July to formally consider the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra, and to deliberate on the SIT probe into alleged donation fund irregularities.
Who else has submitted a resignation to the Ram Temple Trust?
Apart from General Secretary Champat Rai, Trustee Anil Mishra has also submitted his resignation. Both resignations are expected to be taken up at the Trust's crucial meeting on 6 July.
What questions did the seers raise about the Trust's management?
The seers questioned Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri on why adequate safeguards for donation funds had allegedly not been put in place and why a proposed Trust meeting was convened ahead of schedule. They demanded clear, transparent answers, stressing the Ram Mandir's importance to crores of devotees.
