Ayodhya Ram Temple: Trust accepts resignations of key officials; set to appoint CEO

New Delhi: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which held its crucial meeting on the temple premises on Monday, accepted the resignations of Champat Rai as its general secretary and Anil Mishra as its member.

Both had recently stepped down from their posts after SIT submitted its preliminary report in the Ram temple donation theft case to the state government.

Read more: Ram temple donation theft row: SIT finds repeated instances of employees concealing cash


Krishna Mohan was named as interim general secretary, temple trust treasurer Govind Giri told reporters after the meeting that lasted for about three hours. Giri said the trust unanimously appreciated Rai's contribution to the Ram temple movement and construction. He said a resignation is deemed accepted the moment it is submitted. "Its acceptance or rejection is not in our hands," he further said.

It was also decided to form a three-member committee for the appointment of a chief executive officer of the trust. The members will be justice Pramod Kohli (retd), Lt Gen Vishnukant Chaturvedi (retd) and Suresh Ji Havare.

Giri also said the record of around 2,800 donated items is properly maintained in a register and they will be soon displayed. He added that anyone can visit the trust's office and see the item they have donated.

The trust will hold another meeting on July 22 to discuss other issues, including appointment of new trustees. By that time, Giri hoped, SIT will also submit its final report.

The meeting to discuss the fallout of embezzlement of temple donations started at 3.15 pm at the guest house inside the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in presence of seven of the nine permanent members, including trust chairman Nritya Gopal Das. Rai and Mishra did not attend the meeting, sources said. The meeting concluded at around 6.30 pm.

"We want culprits behind donation theft to be punished. Those showing sudden love for sanatan want to divide Hindus," Giri told reporters.

The administration made elaborate security arrangements by deploying additional police personnel on roads leading to the temple complex. The venue of the meeting was shifted from Mani Ram Das Chhawani to the temple complex, citing security reasons.

Read more: Ram Mandir donation row: Trust says it received Rs 3,264 crore in donations, spent Rs 2,370 crore on temple


The meeting discussed issues like alleged irregularities in the counting of donation money, future interim arrangements and the circumstances leading to a request to the state government to constitute the SIT.