Ram Temple in Ayodhya Faces Leadership Shake‑up Over Alleged Donation Theft

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:06:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A major donation scandal hits India’s newest temple, sparking a leadership overhaul and a police investigation. What’s actually happening?

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai after allegations that tens of millions of rupees were stolen from the temple’s donation boxes. An interim leader has been appointed while a Special Investigation Team probes the case and police have charged eight suspects. The trust, which has collected over 5.8 bn rupees ($61m) in donations, is set to convene again in July to review the findings. The incident underscores the political and religious significance of the temple, which attracts about 50 million pilgrims a year.

Temple Leadership Shake‑up Amid Allegations

Authorities at the famous Ram temple in Ayodhya announced a leadership overhaul after accusations that thousands of rupees were stolen from donation boxes.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust accepted the resignation of general secretary Champat Rai and appointed retired forest officer Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up by the state government and police registered a case with eight suspects, who have since been arrested.

The trust has collected over 5.8 bn rupees ($61m) in donations since its opening in January 2024, spending about 3.19 bn rupees ($33m) on the shrine’s upkeep.

The allegations began when a former accounts supervisor raised concerns but was dismissed; the claims later sparked a political row, with petitions seeking a federal police investigation.

Officials say the theft was carried out by individuals, not the trust itself, and are working to close any loopholes. The trust will meet again on 22 July to review the police report.

With around 50 million pilgrims visiting each year, the temple remains one of India’s most important pilgrimage centres, and a scandal here is a major blow to its reputation.

Watch our 60-second recap to get the full story—then challenge your friends in SnapScope’s “Temple Trust Trivia” game!