Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has launched sweeping governance reforms following allegations of large-scale embezzlement involving devotees’ donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The alleged theft of cash, jewellery, gold and silver offerings has sparked nationwide concern, political debate and renewed calls for professional management of India’s major religious institutions.
The controversy surfaced in June 2026, prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged diversion of crores of rupees from donation boxes. According to the Trust, the SIT’s preliminary report identified eight individuals allegedly involved in irregularities during donation counting. Complaints filed by the Trust led to their arrests, while investigations remain underway.
At a meeting in Ayodhya, the Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, who stepped down on moral grounds. Retired Indian Forest Service officer and trustee Krishna Mohan was appointed interim General Secretary, while Gopal Nagarkote was removed from the list of special invitees.
Treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj announced a complete overhaul of the Trust’s administrative framework, promising stronger financial controls, greater transparency and amendments to the bylaws to support modern management. He also criticised the State Bank of India, saying it should have exercised stricter oversight over the donation-counting process.
A key reform is the recruitment of the Trust’s first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Applications are open until July 18, 2026 (4 p.m.), with a three-member search committee comprising retired Justice Pramod Kohli, Lt Gen (Retd) Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and Suresh Haware, former Chairman of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, tasked with recommending candidates.
The CEO will oversee administration, finance, pilgrim services, security and compliance while reporting to the Trust through the General Secretary. Eligible candidates must be practising Hindus, preferably Vaishnavites or devotees of Lord Ram, aged between 50 and 70 years, with a bachelor’s degree and over 20 years of senior managerial experience. Preference will be given to candidates with experience managing temples or Hindu institutions.
More than 1,000 applications have reportedly been received. Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur has confirmed his candidature, while retired IAS officers Avnish Awasthi, Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, Dr. Anil Pathak, and former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar have also been mentioned as possible contenders. The Trust is expected to review the SIT’s final report, appoint additional trustees and advance the CEO selection at its next meeting on July 22. The CEO’s salary and powers will be determined independently by the Trust.
To reassure devotees, the Trust stated that it had received Rs 582 crore in offerings as of March 31, 2026, of which Rs 391 crore had been spent on operational expenses, with the balance remaining in bank accounts. It said 2,126 physical offerings are verified annually by an independent chartered accountant, while silver offerings are converted into bricks at the India Government Mint with full documentation. Additionally, Rs 2,370 crore has been spent on temple construction from the Rs 3,264 crore collected through the nationwide fund dedication campaign and corpus donations.
Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj dismissed allegations that donated valuables had disappeared, stating that the Trust maintains records of nearly 2,800 donated items, all of which are safe. He urged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to submit it directly to the SIT rather than making public allegations.
The episode offers valuable lessons for religious institutions across India. It highlights the need for professional leadership, robust financial controls, digital tracking of donations, independent audits, segregation of duties and transparent governance. By combining spiritual stewardship with modern management, the Ayodhya Trust aims to restore public confidence and establish a governance model that could serve as a benchmark for temple administration nationwide.
