Champat Rai resigned as general secretary of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust on Friday following allegations of donation fund theft [1].
The resignation of the trust chief marks a significant leadership crisis for one of India's most high-profile religious sites. The departure comes as investigators look into the disappearance of funds intended for the temple's administration and development.
Rai said he was taking moral responsibility for the alleged theft of donation funds from the trust [1]. The move follows reports that donation funds totaling between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore are missing [1].
The investigation is centered in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, where the Ram Mandir Trust oversees the management of the temple [1], [2]. While the trust has not released a detailed internal audit, the scale of the missing funds has drawn intense scrutiny toward the organization's financial oversight mechanisms.
Local authorities and trust officials are currently probing the circumstances surrounding the loss. The resignation is intended to facilitate a deeper investigation into how the funds were diverted, and who was responsible for the lapse in security [1], [2].
This development follows a series of reports regarding financial irregularities within the trust's donation collection process. The trust has not yet named a successor to Rai's position as general secretary.
“Champat Rai resigned as general secretary of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust on Friday”
The resignation of the trust's general secretary suggests a systemic failure in the financial governance of the Ram Mandir Trust. Because the temple relies heavily on public donations, the disappearance of several crore rupees may undermine donor confidence and lead to more stringent government oversight of religious trusts in India.
