Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold a crucial meeting Monday amid ongoing investigations into the alleged embezzlement of donations, with the fate of the resignations submitted by the Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra expected to dominate the agenda, Trust sources told the media.
The meeting will be held at Mani Ram Chhawni, the monastery of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das. Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri has asked all regular and ex officio members to attend the deliberations.
Sources told PTI that Trust president Nritya Gopal Das, who is hospitalised in critical condition, and senior trustee K Parasaran, who cannot travel due to age-related health issues, may participate in the meeting via video conference.
According to sources, the Trust is likely to discuss the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, both of whom stepped down after being accused in the case.
If their resignations are accepted, the meeting is also likely to consider plans for a new administrative structure for the Trust’s operations. The role of special invitee Gopal Rao is also expected to be discussed.
Additionally, the meeting is likely to include a briefing on the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the alleged embezzlement and will address the future management framework for the Ram temple.
Sources mention that an unaudited income and expenditure statement, balance sheet, and other financial details for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be presented for approval.
Furthermore, discussions regarding the appointment of a chief executive officer to oversee the management of the Ram temple are anticipated to take place during the meeting, sources told PTI.
Currently, the Trust comprises 11 regular members, including president Nritya Gopal Das, Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, treasurer Govind Dev Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das, and K Parasaran.
With the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, and the recent passing of trustee Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the Trust currently lacks a vice president to preside over meetings in the president’s absence, sources say.
The ex officio members include Union government secretary Prashant Lekhande, Uttar Pradesh government secretary Sanjay Prasad, Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra.
The meeting comes as two parallel investigations into the alleged embezzlement are underway. While an SIT is conducting an administrative probe and its tenure has been extended till the end of July, the police are investigating the case after an FIR was lodged on the Trust’s complaint.
According to sources, statements from Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and special invitee Gopal Rao have been recorded by both the SIT and the police; however, no FIR has yet been filed against any of the three Trust functionaries.
