Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned on Friday, a day after eight people were arrested in connection with the alleged theft and misappropriation of devotees' donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
According to sources, the two stepped down, taking moral responsibility as the controversy over the handling of temple donations intensified. Their resignations come amid mounting scrutiny following the preliminary findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which reportedly flagged serious procedural lapses in the management, monitoring and accounting of donations.
The first FIR in the case was registered on the recommendation of the SIT after a complaint by trust member Krishna Mohan, who joined the trust in September 2025 following the death of former trustee Kameshwar Chaupal.
Hours after the FIR was lodged, Uttar Pradesh Police arrested all eight accused named in the case. They include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu.
The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to theft, criminal breach of trust, concealment of stolen property, criminal conspiracy and offences committed with common intention, along with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 to investigate allegations of irregularities in the collection, storage and accounting of donations offered by devotees.
According to sources, the SIT's preliminary report found gaps in employee verification, inadequate security checks for staff entering and leaving sensitive areas, weak CCTV surveillance and irregularities in the movement of donations from the temple premises to the trust office and subsequently to banks.
Investigators are also examining the process of counting donations and the handling of gold, silver, ornaments and other valuables after discrepancies were reportedly noticed in inventory records and documentation.
Meanwhile, BJP worker Dr Rajnish Singh, who had earlier sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the matter, said the resignations alone were insufficient and demanded that the investigation also examine the role and assets of those who stepped down. These allegations remain his claims and have not been independently verified.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy towards any attempt to misuse public faith, saying action was initiated immediately after the SIT submitted its findings. He asserted that preserving the sanctity of Ayodhya and ensuring accountability in matters linked to devotees' faith remained a priority.
The SIT investigation is continuing, and authorities have indicated that further action will depend on its final findings.
Also read: Cong seeks SC-monitored probe in Ram temple donation embezzlement
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