Ayodhya, 06 July (HS): The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth

Kshetra Trust has formally accepted the resignations of General Secretary

Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Following a Special Investigation Team

(SIT) inquiry into the suspected siphoning of around Rs. 7-7.5 crore from

temple contribution boxes, the resignations were given with a sense of moral

responsibility. The trustees named Bajrang Bagra as his successor. During a

vital meeting of all trustees in Ayodhya, treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri

declared that the resignations had been accepted. The investigation was begun

after CCTV evidence revealed temple workers, including Rai's chauffeur,

embezzling money, prompting the arrest of eight people. While the stolen monies

prompted the resignations, no criminal complaint has been filed against Champat

Rai or Anil Mishra.

Bajrang Bagra, a chartered accountant, has been chosen the

next General Secretary. Despite his departure from leadership roles, Rai

intended to remain a lifelong member of the trust. Rai was reportedly present

at the temple compound but did not attend the meeting.

The trust's most important meeting since its inception in 2020 is now ongoing and

is likely to focus on the investigation and suggested governance improvements.

Swami Govind Dev Giri, Trust treasurer, convened the meeting, which is led by

Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and attended by top trustees,

government authorities, and legal experts. The discussion takes place while the

SIT and police conduct concurrent investigations into the suspected

embezzlement. Rai, Mishra, and Rao's statements were recorded, but no FIRs were

filed against them.

Krishna Mohan has been given additional responsibilities as

interim general secretary of the trust. Champat Rai, the general secretary, was

very saddened; he believed it was unacceptable to stay in his position until

justice was served—that is, the perpetrators were arrested and punished

appropriately. Driven by this emotion, he presented his resignation, which was

not ours to accept or reject. K Parasaran made an important point: under the

Trust's constitution, a resignation is presumed accepted the instant it is

tendered. Although no FIRs have been filed against former general secretary

Champat Rai, ex-trustee Anil Mishra, and special invitee Gopal Rao, attorneys

from the Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya have submitted a formal police

complaint requesting criminal charges against them.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi