Who Is Champat Rai and Why Did He Resign as General Secretary of Ram Mandir Trust?
Champat Rai has resigned as General Secretary of the Ram Mandir Trust, alongside trustee Anil Mishra, taking moral responsibility after an SIT probe exposed embezzlement of temple donations. Eight individuals, including the counting staff and a former driver for Rai, were arrested for siphoning cash. A full-time CEO may be appointed.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra formally resigned from their positions on Friday, June 26, citing moral responsibility amid a deepening investigation into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations. The high-profile departures follow a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe and the subsequent arrest of eight individuals linked to the systematic theft of cash offerings at the Ayodhya shrine.
Who Is Champat Rai?
Champat Rai is a veteran senior leader of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) who has been closely associated with the Ayodhya Ram Temple movement for decades. When the central government constituted the independent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in 2020, following the Supreme Court's landmark verdict, Rai was appointed as its founding General Secretary. Champat Rai, Anil Mishra Resign From Ram Mandir Trust Amid Donation Controversy.
In this role, he was the chief administrative executive responsible for overseeing both the historic construction of the temple and the day-to-day management of its operations, including the collection and management of public donations.
Why the Resignations Occurred
Rai and fellow trustee Anil Mishra stepped down amid mounting administrative scrutiny over how public offerings (chadhava) were being handled. The resignations were triggered after a preliminary report from a state-appointed SIT flagged severe monitoring and security lapses in the temple's donation counting procedures. With opposition leaders questioning the accountability of the trust's top brass, Rai and Mishra tendered their resignations on moral grounds while the investigation continues.
The Embezzlement Case and Key Arrests
The financial controversy gained national attention earlier this month, prompting the trust to request an official inquiry. On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member SIT, headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, to audit the temple's donation handling operations. Following the SIT's initial findings, trust member Krishna Mohan filed a formal FIR. On Thursday, Ayodhya police arrested eight individuals, including counting staff, former banking personnel, and temple attendants, who were allegedly caught on CCTV siphoning off cash. Among those arrested was Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, who previously worked as a driver for Champat Rai. 'Don't Test Ram Bhakts': Yogi Adityanath Hits Back at Congress Over Ram Mandir Donation Row (Watch Video).
Political Fallout and Structural Reform
The alleged theft of crores of rupees has sparked a sharp political debate. Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, had actively demanded accountability, calling for the dissolution of the trust and questioning whether senior figures were ignoring the lapses. In response to the crisis, officials are considering significant administrative reforms. Senior figures involved with the temple committee have advocated for the appointment of a full-time, professional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee daily temple finances, manage outsourced counting staff, and ensure absolute transparency moving forward.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2026 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
