AYODHYA: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has announced a series of administrative decisions following a meeting of its Board of Trustees in Ayodhya. The discussions focused on the alleged irregularities in the counting of donation funds, the ongoing investigation, recent resignations from key positions within the Trust, and measures to improve institutional governance.
In an official statement, the Trust expressed concern over the alleged irregularities and described the episode as unfortunate. It said that immediately after the issue came to light, Trust officials gathered preliminary information and requested the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct an impartial investigation.
श्री राम जन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र (न्यास) की एक बैठक आज न्यास के अध्यक्ष पूज्य नृत्य गोपाल दास जी महाराज की अध्यक्षता में संपन्न हुई। बैठक के पश्चात जारी वक्तव्य
A meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (Trust) was held today under the chairmanship of the Trust’s… pic.twitter.com/Sv7Gi9GWQv
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) July 6, 2026
Responding to the request, the state government constituted a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the matter comprehensively, identify those responsible, and recommend necessary legal and administrative action.
The Trust said that accountability would be determined solely through the investigation and that legal action should be taken against anyone found guilty.
SIT submits interim Report, names eight individuals
According to the Trust, the SIT’s preliminary findings identified eight individuals allegedly linked to the irregularities. Based on prima facie evidence, criminal cases have been registered and arrests have already been made. The Special Investigation Team has submitted an interim report in which it has mentioned about the theft of the CCTV cameras
The Trust emphasised that the investigation is continuing under due legal process and reiterated its position that the strictest legal action should be taken against anyone found responsible.
Beyond fixing accountability, the SIT has also been tasked with recommending systemic improvements to strengthen internal controls and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Champat Rai and Anil Mishra step down
Following the preliminary SIT report, General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations on moral grounds.
The Trust accepted both resignations to ensure an impartial investigation. It also decided to remove Gopal Nagar Kotey from the list of specially invited members.
The Trust clarified that no conclusions regarding individual responsibility should be drawn until the legal investigation is completed.
Administrative reforms planned
The Trust announced that it will undertake a comprehensive review of its management systems and operational procedures. Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, Treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said, “A complete overhaul will certainly be undertaken. I must also point out that State Bank of India (SBI) should not have shirked its responsibility in this matter; since the work was carried out in collaboration with SBI, they also bore responsibility, and we have had to suffer the severe consequences of their lack of oversight. In my view, the FIR should actually have been filed by SBI, not by our Trust, though the well-intentioned members of our Trust went ahead and filed it themselves. The responsibility is truly theirs…We are determined to do so and will adopt a process that leaves absolutely no room for doubt. We will take appropriate measures, seek guidance from all concerned, and fully restore the reputation of the Ram Mandir, which has been tarnished.”
Besides implementing recommendations made by the SIT, the Trust plans to seek independent advice from experts to establish a stronger, more efficient and transparent administrative framework. The objective, it said, is to create a governance model that can serve as a benchmark for the management of major religious institutions.
The Trust has appointed trustee Krishna Mohan to discharge the responsibilities of General Secretary until a new appointment is made.
It also constituted a three-member committee comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and Suresh Havde to recommend candidates for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“The Trust intends to seek independent consultations from experts, in addition to SIT recommendations, to establish an ideal, efficient and transparent management system,” the release said.
The Trust urged anyone possessing concrete evidence of irregularities involving any individual associated with the temple to submit it directly to the SIT or the concerned investigating agency instead of making public allegations.
Temple construction completed in under six years
The Trust highlighted that since its establishment in 2020, it has completed the construction of the grand Ram Temple in less than six years.
According to the statement, the period also witnessed the consecration ceremonies, installation of temple structures, flag-hoisting rituals and other religious activities conducted in accordance with traditional scriptures.
The Trust expressed gratitude to devotees, engineers, architects, artisans, workers, and both the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments for their contribution to the project.
Financial details disclosed
The Trust also shared financial figures relating to temple construction and donations.
It stated that Rs 3,264 crore had been received through the Nidhi Samarpan Abhiyan and corpus donations, of which approximately Rs 2,370 crore had been spent on construction and capital expenditure.
Additionally, the Trust said that offerings received until March 31, 2026, totalled Rs 582 crore, while Rs 311 crore had been utilized for operational expenses. The remaining funds continue to remain in bank accounts.
The statement noted that these financial details have been periodically shared with the media.
Verification of devotees’ offerings
The Trust also addressed concerns regarding gifts donated by devotees.
It said that 2,196 non-cash offerings have been received and each has been recorded in a register with complete details. An independent chartered accountancy firm conducts annual physical verification of these items as part of the internal audit process.
Receipts are issued for all offerings submitted at designated counters, while donors who provide their details for other forms of donations also receive acknowledgements.
The Trust invited devotees who wish to verify the status of their donated items to visit Ayodhya after scheduling an appointment with Trust officials.
Regarding silver offerings, the Trust clarified that such items are melted into silver bars at the Government of India’s Mint, with records maintained through photographs, weight measurements and official purity certificates.
Trust warns against misinformation
The Trust alleged that certain groups are attempting to use the controversy to undermine faith in the Ram Temple and the broader Hindu community.
It maintained that the ongoing investigation should be allowed to reach its logical conclusion and cautioned against making allegations before the legal process is complete.
Reiterating its commitment to accountability, the Trust said that transparency, institutional reforms and adherence to due process remain central to its approach as the investigation continues.
Despite the controversy surrounding the alleged donation embezzlement, the Trust said the flow of devotees to the Ram Mandir remains unaffected.
“Despite controversies and propaganda, the influx of devotees to the Ram Mandir continues unabated, which the Trust cites as proof of the unwavering faith of millions of devotees. The Trust maintains that the truth will emerge after the legal investigation process is complete and discourages blaming individuals prematurely,” the release said.
