Ram Temple Donation Theft Row: Ram Mandir Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri Refuses To Resign
The treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj, announced on Tuesday that he will not resign from his post following a recent donation theft case. He argued that State Bank of India (SBI) officials assigned to manage the temple's collections should have detected the ongoing financial discrepancies.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj has said he will not step down from his post despite the ongoing controversy over the alleged theft of donations collected at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Addressing the issue in Pune, Giri maintained that there was no reason for his resignation and attributed the alleged financial irregularities to lapses by State Bank of India (SBI) officials responsible for monitoring the donation process, as reported by TOI.
Treasurer Rejects Calls to Quit
Speaking to reporters, Giri said he had no intention of resigning, arguing that he was not responsible for the alleged embezzlement of temple donations. He asserted that the Trust's role was separate from the banking process and claimed that SBI officials should have detected and flagged any suspicious transactions or irregularities. Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Row: Maharashtra Congress to Launch Statewide Protest Against BJP, RSS.
According to Giri, the alleged fraud was possible because those responsible for overseeing the banking system failed to exercise adequate vigilance.
Blames Lapses in Banking Oversight
The Trust treasurer said the responsibility for verifying the credentials and conduct of bank employees rested with SBI. He argued that the alleged theft reflected shortcomings in the bank's internal monitoring mechanisms rather than mismanagement by the Trust. His remarks come amid continued scrutiny of the Trust's handling of donations following the emergence of the alleged embezzlement case. Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: Akhilesh Yadav Questions SIT Probe, Uttar Pradesh Ministers Hits Back.
Donation Theft Case Sparks Governance Debate
The controversy began after allegations surfaced regarding the misappropriation of donations made to the Ram Temple. The case prompted the resignation of former Trust General Secretary Champat Rai on moral grounds, while the Trust has initiated steps to strengthen its governance structure. Among the proposed reforms is the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to improve administrative oversight and financial accountability.
Background
In recent days, Giri has repeatedly denied reports suggesting that he had resigned. He has also maintained that he had no direct role in the day-to-day counting of temple donations and has defended the Trust's audit processes.
The donation theft investigation remains ongoing, with the Trust and investigating agencies examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged embezzlement while implementing measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 15, 2026 08:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).