NEW DELHI: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to hold a crucial meeting on Monday in Ayodhya amid the ongoing probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations.According to temple administration assistant Gopal Rao, the meeting will take place at 3 pm inside the Ram Temple premises. The Trust has asked all regular and ex-officio members to attend the deliberations.“The trust meeting will take place at 3 PM within the temple complex. Everyone has been notified; we expect everyone to attend,” he said.Trust president Nritya Gopal Das is also expected to attend the meeting after being discharged from the hospital.The meeting will take place for the first time since the theft allegations surfaced. It comes as two parallel investigations into the alleged embezzlement are under way.The controversy has intensified after allegations surfaced that donations made to the Ram Temple were misused. The opposition has demanded an independent investigation, while BJP leaders have accused it of politicising an issue linked to the faith of millions of Hindus.
What’s on agenda
Champat Rai and Anil Mishra’s resignationsThe Trust is expected to discuss the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, both of whom stepped down after being linked to the donation theft row.Champat Rai and Anil Mishra resigned from the Trust on June 26 after allegations of irregularities in donations surfaced, with questions being raised over their alleged role in the matter.Meanwhile, the Ayodhya Sant Mandal has extended its support to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and urged the Trust not to accept his resignation.New administrative structure for the Trust’s operationsIf the resignations are accepted, the meeting is expected to consider plans for a new administrative structure for the Trust’s operations. The role of special invitee Gopal Rao is also expected to be discussed, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.Deliberations regarding the appointment of a chief executive officer to oversee the management of the Ram Temple are also expected to take place during the meeting, the sources added.Currently, the Trust comprises 11 regular members, including president Nritya Gopal Das, Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, treasurer Govind Dev Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das, and K Parasaran.With the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, and the recent death of trustee Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the Trust currently lacks a vice president to preside over meetings in the president’s absence, sources said.Briefing on donation embezzlement probeAdditionally, the meeting is likely to include a briefing on the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement case and address the future management framework for the Ram Temple.The SIT is conducting an administrative probe, with its tenure extended till the end of July, while the police are carrying out a parallel investigation after an FIR was lodged on the Trust’s complaint.According to sources, statements of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and special invitee Gopal Rao have been recorded by both the SIT and the police. However, no FIR has been filed against any of the three Trust functionaries.Sources added that an unaudited income and expenditure statement, balance sheet, and other financial details for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be presented for approval.
