AYODHYA — The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, and appointed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary. These changes followed allegations of donation theft, which led to an investigation and arrests.

Krishna Mohan, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), assumed the interim role. The Trust also established a new CEO position, and a three-member panel will recommend candidates for the role. The Trust held its first meeting on Monday after the allegations of donation theft emerged.

Ayodhya police registered a case of alleged embezzlement against eight individuals, all of whom were arrested and questioned. A police complaint regarding these allegations was lodged on June 25. The state government created a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the claims of donation theft.

The allegations of theft at the temple were made by a former accounts supervisor. He stated that his dismissal occurred after he raised internal concerns about alleged wrongdoing. A former city legislator claimed that more than 70 million rupees had gone missing.

Govind Dev Giri, treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, stated that the temple trustees did not commit the theft. Giri added, "Whether the theft was small or big comes later. The atmosphere that has been created is what has hurt all of us." He expressed that, "This betrayal was perpetrated by people whom Champat Rai, whom we consider a truly noble and great soul, trusted and kept close for so many years. It was those people who betrayed the trust."

Krishna Mohan, the interim general secretary, articulated his priorities. "My priority was to identify and close any loophole so such incidents are never repeated," Mohan said. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had received 5.82 billion rupees in donations from devotees until March 31, 2026, and spent 3.19 billion rupees on the shrine's upkeep. The Ram temple in Ayodhya attracts 50 million visitors annually.