Former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust administrator Gopal Rao have been named as witnesses in the charge sheet filed in connection with the alleged theft of donations and offerings at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 23 September. Investigators submitted a 7,000-page charge sheet in the case earlier the same day.

Key Developments in the Case

Along with Champat Rai and Gopal Rao, former temple body trustee Anil Mishra and interim General Secretary Krishna Mohan have also been listed as witnesses in the charge sheet, according to officials. The filing of the massive document prompted hundreds of lawyers — including Ayodhya Bar Association President Kalika Prasad Mishra — to stage a protest outside the court, demanding access to examine its contents.

SIT Clean Chit and Earlier Resignations

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged donation theft had, last month, given a clean chit to both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. The two had stepped down from their respective positions on 27 June after allegations of irregularities in the handling of temple donations surfaced. The SIT subsequently questioned both as part of its investigation into the Trust's management and donation collection practices.

According to sources, Rai denied any personal involvement in the alleged irregularities during questioning. He reportedly told investigators that he had himself lodged a complaint in connection with the suspected theft, following which the accused persons were arrested. Rai also maintained that ensuring transparency and preventing irregularities in donation collection was part of his responsibility, and that he had acted on the matter as soon as the alleged wrongdoing came to his notice.

New CEO Takes Charge Amid Restructuring

Separately, retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra assumed office on Monday as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Trust had appointed him to the newly created position on 2 September as part of a broader restructuring exercise aimed at improving administrative coordination and functioning. His appointment came directly in the wake of the donation theft allegations, which had drawn sharp public and political scrutiny to the Trust's management.

Context and What Comes Next

The Ram Temple donation theft case has cast a long shadow over the administration of one of India's most high-profile religious institutions, consecrated in January 2024. The Trust has faced persistent questions about oversight and financial accountability since the allegations emerged. With a 7,000-page charge sheet now before the court, and key figures including former Trust leadership named as witnesses, legal proceedings are expected to intensify. The appointment of a professional CEO signals an attempt to insulate temple management from further controversy, though critics argue that institutional reforms must be matched by credible judicial outcomes.