In the midst of an ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations intended for the Ram Mandir, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust has accepted the resignations of its General Secretary, Champat Rai, along with trustee Anil Mishra. According to Govind Giri, the trust’s treasurer, these resignations were in line with the trust’s constitutional guidelines. Giri took the opportunity to commend Champat Rai for his significant contributions to the trust since it was established.
The decision to accept the resignations comes as the trust faces allegations of irregularities in how temple donations were counted. Pankaj Jaiswal, a senior member of the trust, expressed his dismay over the situation, labeling it both painful and shameful. He emphasized that any misappropriation of funds contributed by devotees is utterly unacceptable.
In response to these developments, the trust has appointed Krisha Mohan as the interim General Secretary, while Govind Giri will maintain his role as treasurer. The trust is scheduled to convene again on July 22, by which time they anticipate receiving the final report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the matter. Giri made it clear that the trust is committed to accountability and will not shield anyone found guilty of wrongdoing, insisting that legal action will be pursued against all accused, regardless of their status within the organization.
The investigation into the alleged theft of the Ram Mandir donations has already led to the arrest of eight individuals, with inquiries continuing to unfold. This case has cast a shadow over the trust, placing immense importance on the forthcoming SIT report, which is expected to shed further light on the extent of the alleged misappropriations.