The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has acknowledged receiving the resignation letters of its General Secretary, Champat Rai, and trustee Anil Mishra, even as investigations continue into the alleged misappropriation of donations collected at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. While confirming the development, the Trust sought to reassure devotees that all offerings made directly to the temple, including silver bricks, ornaments and other valuables, remain secure and have been properly documented. The resignations will be taken up for consideration at the Trust's next meeting.
In a detailed statement issued on Saturday, the Trust described itself as "shocked, hurt and deeply saddened" by the allegations that have surfaced in recent days. Stressing that it represents millions of devotees and volunteers associated with the temple, the Trust said it was committed to ensuring a transparent investigation. It clarified that the controversy pertains to funds collected through donation boxes and noted that an FIR had already been registered on the basis of the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government at the Trust's request. The Trust maintained that all offerings personally handed over by devotees to temple officials are intact, securely stored and backed by proper records. It also pledged that those responsible for any wrongdoing would face strict legal action and that safeguards would be strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future. Calling upon devotees not to be influenced by rumours or misinformation, the Trust asserted that attempts to malign the temple and Sanatan Dharma would not succeed and expressed confidence that the truth would ultimately prevail.
The controversy has, however, acquired a political dimension. Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the resignations were an attempt to shield senior functionaries instead of fixing accountability. He argued that merely stepping down would not be sufficient if wrongdoing had occurred and questioned the manner in which the investigation was being conducted. Kejriwal also raised concerns over the handling of the eight arrested accused, claiming they were not taken into police remand for custodial interrogation and therefore were not questioned about the alleged chain of responsibility, the destination of the missing funds or whether others were involved. The remarks come days after the donation row escalated with multiple arrests and the registration of criminal cases, placing the management of one of India's most prominent religious institutions under intense public and political scrutiny.