3 min readJun 26, 2026 07:48 PM IST
First published on: Jun 26, 2026 at 01:59 PM IST
Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, is facing pressure to step down from his post following allegations of theft of donations by devotees, with sources saying there is consensus to ensure an impartial probe into the matter.
The Indian Express had earlier reported that an audit report in 2020 had flagged the “highly unprofessional” functioning of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The audit was conducted just months after the Trust was set up and had made some key recommendations, which were not implemented even six years later.
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The issue came to the fore after allegations of misappropriation of the donations surfaced. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday.
On Thursday, police in Ayodhya had registered an FIR against eight individuals on a complaint alleging theft, misappropriation of cash, valuables, embezzlement of funds and valuables donated to the Ram temple. The eight individuals named in the FIR are Avinash Shukla, Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav and Subhash Srivastav.
Tinnu Yadav used to work as a driver for Champat Rai. According to an official, ever since the consecration of the idol in 2022, Tinnu had been involved in the functioning of affairs inside the temple.
ALSO READ | ‘Don’t test Ram devotees’: Yogi on Ayodhya temple donation theft allegations
Earlier in the day, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government’s intention is clear in the Ram temple donation theft case. “Everything will become clear. But do not test Ram devotees, stop playing with their faith. If there are no facts or evidence, stop the accusations. If there is evidence, present it before the SIT,” he said.
The CM also claimed the Opposition had even questioned the existence of Lord Ram. “One of them used to say Lord Ram never existed. They even wanted to deny Ayodhya’s existence. They continued fighting in court with a battery of lawyers against the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ram temple,” he added.
Champat Rai is the general secretary of the Ram Mandir Trust. 
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