The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignation of its General Secretary, Champat Rai, amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
According to sources, the trust has appointed Bajrang Bagra as its new general secretary. The decision was taken during a meeting of the trust held within the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya.
The leadership change comes as authorities continue investigating the alleged embezzlement of donations offered by devotees at the temple. Rai had submitted his resignation on June 26, a day after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eight individuals, including his driver, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, in connection with the alleged theft of temple donations.
Sources said another trustee, Anil Mishra, had also resigned in the wake of the controversy. Although both Rai and Mishra have been linked to the matter, no criminal case has been registered against either of them so far, and investigators have not announced any formal charges against the two trustees.
Despite submitting his resignation, Rai was present inside the Ram Temple premises on Monday. However, sources said he did not attend or participate in the trust's meeting where his resignation was accepted and a successor was appointed.
The meeting is being viewed as one of the most significant gatherings of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust since its establishment in 2020 following the formation of the body to oversee the construction and administration of the Ram Temple.
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Convened by Trust Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri and chaired by Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the meeting was attended by senior trustees, government representatives and legal experts. The deliberations focused on the functioning of the trust in the backdrop of the ongoing investigation into the alleged donation theft.
According to sources, trustees are expected to review the progress of the police investigation, assess existing financial and administrative procedures governing the handling of donations, and discuss measures aimed at strengthening internal oversight and transparency.
The trust is also likely to examine possible governance reforms, including improvements in accounting practices, monitoring mechanisms and administrative safeguards to ensure greater accountability in the management of donations received from devotees.
The alleged embezzlement case has drawn significant public attention, given the religious and national importance of the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Investigators are continuing to probe the alleged theft and examine the role of those arrested, while officials have not yet disclosed the full extent of the suspected financial irregularities.
The resignation of Champat Rai and the appointment of a new general secretary mark a significant administrative development for the trust at a time when it faces heightened public scrutiny. The leadership transition is expected to play a key role as the trust seeks to restore confidence, strengthen institutional governance and ensure greater transparency in the management of one of India's most prominent religious institutions.
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