Ram Mandir trust chief Champat Rai, Anil Mishra resign over donation scandal
Synopsis
The Ram Mandir donation scandal has claimed its highest-profile scalps: Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra have both stepped down on moral grounds, days after an SIT flagged serious lapses and eight lower-level accused were arrested. The crisis has deepened questions about oversight at one of India's most consequential religious institutions.
Key Takeaways
Champat Rai , General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust , and member Anil Mishra resigned on 26 June on moral grounds.
Resignations follow SIT preliminary findings flagging lapses in the handling of chadhava (devotee offerings) at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya .
An FIR was filed against 8 individuals — temple attendants, counting staff, and former bank officials — all of whom have been arrested.
The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on 14 June following a request from the Trust itself.
Critics allege that only lower-level staff have been made 'scapegoats' while senior figures face no direct legal action.
Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and Trust member Anil Mishra resigned from their positions on 26 June, according to credible sources, in what marks the highest-level accountability fallout from the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The resignations were confirmed by the Uttar Pradesh government's Director of Information, who indicated both officials stepped down on moral grounds.
The Donation Controversy
The crisis stems from allegations that offerings and valuables worth hundreds of crores were misappropriated by temple staff, reportedly in collusion with bank officials. The scandal sent shockwaves across crores of devotees who regard the Ram Temple as a site of deep religious significance. As the body responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and managing chadhava (offerings) to Lord Ram, the Trust now faces intense scrutiny over lapses that critics say went unchecked for an extended period.
SIT Findings and FIR
The state government had on 14 June constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged irregularities, following a request from the Trust itself. The SIT's preliminary findings flagged significant lapses in the handling of devotee donations, fuelling mounting demands for accountability. An FIR was subsequently lodged against eight individuals — including temple attendants, counting staff, and former bank officials allegedly involved in siphoning temple funds. All eight accused have since been arrested.
The Accused
Those arrested include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu. The arrests, however, did not fully satisfy those demanding accountability, with critics questioning why only lower-rung individuals were named while senior figures reportedly faced no direct legal action.
Calls for Accountability at the Top
The filing of the FIR drew fresh criticism from several quarters, with many arguing that lower-level staff were being made 'scapegoats' while those in supervisory roles escaped consequence. The resignations of Rai and Mishra appear to be a direct response to this pressure, though questions remain about whether the exits will be sufficient to restore public confidence in the Trust's management. The SIT probe is ongoing, and further findings are expected to shape the next steps.
Point of View
But they risk becoming a pressure-valve move rather than a genuine accountability exercise. The SIT was constituted at the Trust's own request — a detail that raises questions about whether the institution is controlling the pace and scope of scrutiny. With eight lower-level accused arrested and senior figures stepping down rather than facing legal proceedings, the structural question goes unanswered: how did alleged misappropriation of hundreds of crores at one of India's most high-profile temples remain undetected, and who was responsible for the oversight architecture that failed? Moral resignations without legal consequence rarely satisfy the accountability threshold that a scandal of this magnitude demands.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Champat Rai resign from the Ram Mandir trust?
Champat Rai stepped down as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on 26 June on moral grounds, according to the Uttar Pradesh government's Director of Information. His resignation follows an SIT report flagging serious lapses in the handling of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
What is the Ram Mandir donation misappropriation controversy?
The controversy involves allegations that offerings and valuables worth hundreds of crores were misappropriated by temple staff, reportedly in collusion with bank officials at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The scandal prompted the Uttar Pradesh government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 14 June.
Who has been arrested in the Ram Temple donation case?
Eight individuals have been arrested, including Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu. They include temple attendants, counting staff, and former bank officials.
What is the SIT probing in the Ayodhya temple case?
The three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on 14 June at the Trust's request, is probing alleged irregularities in the collection and management of donations offered by devotees at the Ram Temple. Its preliminary findings have already flagged significant lapses.
Will the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra end the controversy?
The resignations have not fully satisfied those demanding accountability, with critics pointing out that only lower-level staff have faced arrest while senior figures have exited without legal consequence. The SIT probe is ongoing, and its final report is expected to determine whether further action follows.
