The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra during a crucial meeting in Ayodhya. The trust also appointed Krishna Mohan as the interim general secretary as the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations continues.

Trust treasurer Govind Giri said the trust had no option but to accept the resignations submitted by the two senior members. “We had no choice but to accept the resignations. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have submitted their resignations. Krishna Mohan ji has been given interim charge as general secretary," Giri told reporters after the meeting.

Krishna Mohan Promises Corrective Steps

Krishna Mohan assured devotees that the trust would strengthen its systems and restore public confidence. He said the trust would identify weaknesses, remove shortcomings and take every possible step to rebuild its credibility. “We will work on the loopholes. We will take every necessary step to regain the trust of the people. We will work to restore the trust’s image," he said.

Trust Reviews SIT Investigation

The trust held the meeting amid an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the counting of Ram Mandir donations. During the meeting, trustees accepted the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. They also reviewed the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, discussed the alleged irregularities in donation counting and considered interim administrative arrangements.

Trustees Express Concern

In a statement issued after the meeting, the trust said its members were deeply disturbed by the allegations. The trustees said they were “deeply hurt and concerned" by the reported irregularities in the donation counting process. They also expressed “serious sorrow" over the incident.

Trust Requested Probe

The trust said it had approached the Uttar Pradesh government after receiving preliminary information about the alleged irregularities. It requested an impartial investigation into the matter. The state government later formed a high-level Special Investigation Team to conduct a detailed inquiry and identify those responsible.

Trust Highlights Financial Transparency

The trust said it has regularly shared its financial details with the media to maintain transparency. According to the trust, it has received ₹3,264 crore through its donation campaign and corpus donations. It has spent ₹2,370 crore on the construction of the Ram Mandir and other capital expenditure.

The trust also said it received ₹582 crore as offerings until March 31, 2026. It spent ₹391 crore on operational expenses, while the remaining amount continues to remain in bank accounts.

Background: How the Donation Row Unfolded

The controversy entered a new phase on July 6, 2026, when the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. The trust appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary, reviewed the SIT probe into the alleged donation irregularities and promised reforms to restore devotees' confidence.

• June 2026: Allegations of irregularities in the counting of Ram Mandir donations surfaced. The trust requested the Uttar Pradesh government to order an independent investigation. The state later formed a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT).
• June 25, 2026: Police arrested eight people, including temple staff and associates, in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donation money after registering an FIR based on the SIT's recommendations.
• June 26, 2026: Champat Rai resigned on moral grounds. Trustee Anil Mishra also stepped down, although neither was named as an accused in the FIR.
• June 27–30, 2026: The trust advanced its scheduled meeting to July 6 to discuss the resignations, review the SIT's findings and decide on future administrative arrangements.
• July 2, 2026: The SIT questioned Champat Rai as part of the ongoing investigation.
• July 4, 2026: The SIT decided to conduct a fresh audit of the trust's financial records for the past five years as part of the probe.
• July 6, 2026: The trust formally accepted the resignations, appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary, reviewed the investigation and pledged to improve internal systems and strengthen public trust.