The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to hold a high-stakes emergency meeting on Monday at Mani Ram Chhawni, the monastery of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das. This crucial gathering comes amid intense political backlash and public outcry over allegations of embezzlement of massive donations. The Trust will make a final call on the resignations of its General Secretary, Champat Rai, and member, Anil Mishra, both of whom stepped down following their alleged involvement in the controversy.High-Stakes Agenda: Resignations, SIT Probe, and New Leadership BlueprintThe meeting is expected to reshape the complete administrative structure of the Ayodhya Ram Temple management. In addition to debating the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, the board will discuss the role of special invitee Gopal Rao. Senior trustee K Parasaran will join the deliberations via video conference due to health constraints. At the same time, 89-year-old Trust president Nritya Gopal Das is highly likely to attend after being discharged from the hospital. The Trust is also scheduled to discuss the potential appointment of a dedicated Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to streamline future operations and ensure institutional transparency.Treasurer Distances Himself as Special Investigation Team Fixes Focus on Financial ReportsAmid the widening probe, Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri explicitly distanced himself from day-to-day administrative functions, clarifying that he has no role in the day-to-day donation-handling process. Asserting that all financial audit reports are entirely secure and accessible to authorised reviewers, Giri called for an absolute, impartial investigation. The Uttar Pradesh government-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) and local police have already recorded formal statements from Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao. The SIT is expected to brief the members today on its interim findings, which reportedly include a new angle of inquiry into whether donated gold and silver ornaments were melted into biscuits to eliminate physical evidence. The Trust will also review the unaudited balance sheet and income and expenditure statements for the 2025-26 fiscal year.Opposition Corners Centre Over Alleged Ayodhya Fund EmbezzlementThe controversy has ignited a fierce political storm, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack, accusing the ruling party of institutionalising corruption and demanding a high-level inquiry directly monitored by a sitting Supreme Court judge. Adding pressure, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, targeted the silence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, alleging that individuals associated with right-wing organisations are directly responsible for siphoning off thousands of crores of rupees meant for the temple's development.
Around the web
