The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the new temple in Ayodhya, announced a leadership overhaul after allegations that donations totaling thousands of rupees were stolen during the January 2024 inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chief Secretary Champat Rai stepped down and an interim head was appointed. The trust’s treasurer Govind Dev Giri revealed that Koukrman Mohan, a retired forest officer and a member of the RSS‑aligned BJP, will fill the role.
The trust originally denied any misconduct, but a state‑run Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up after allegations surfaced last month. The SIT’s preliminary report led to an Ayodhya police case naming eight suspects, who are now detained and under interrogation.
Giri disclosed that the trust had received ₹5.82 billion (about $61 million) from devotees up to March 2026 and spent ₹3.19 billion on the temple’s upkeep. How much was actually siphoned remains unknown, but a former city legislator claims that over ₹70 million has gone missing.
The allegations were first raised by a former accounts supervisor who was dismissed after raising concerns. Politically, the case has drawn fire from opposition parties and petitions have been filed in the High Court and Supreme Court to launch a federal police investigation.
The trust now aims to clean its image and restore devotees’ trust. Giri stressed that the theft was carried out by “trusted aides” of Rai and that the institution itself was not involved. The next board meeting is slated for 22 July, when police are expected to hand over the final report.
