The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will meet on Monday in Ayodhya for the first time since allegations of donation embezzlement emerged. A decision is expected on resignations submitted by general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Regular and ex-officio members have been asked to attend.
India
-Krishna Kripa
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to meet on Monday as inquiries continue. The main focus is likely to be the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Trust sources said the meeting may also review interim findings from the Special Investigation Team, or SIT, probing alleged donation embezzlement.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will meet on Monday in Ayodhya for the first time since allegations of donation embezzlement emerged. A decision is expected on resignations submitted by general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Regular and ex-officio members have been asked to attend.
The session is scheduled at Mani Ram Chhawni, which is the monastery of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das. Trust sources said this is the first meeting since the theft claims emerged. Treasurer Govind Dev Giri has called all regular and ex-officio members to attend, so the Trust can take key decisions.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust meeting and members
The ex-officio members invited include Union Home Ministry Additional Secretary Prashant Lokhande and UP official Sanjay Prasad. Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and former principal secretary to the prime minister Nripendra Mishra are also listed. Trust sources said all 14 trustees have been invited to join the meeting.
Sources in Ayodhya said Das, 89, is likely to attend after leaving hospital. Hospital sources in Lucknow toldthat Das was admitted on June 29. Das had a urinary tract infection and breathing difficulties. Hospital sources said Das was discharged on Friday, which may allow Das to be present.
Senior trustee K Parasaran may join through video conference, sources said. K Parasaran cannot travel due to age-related health issues. Trust sources said this arrangement would help keep K Parasaran involved in decisions. The meeting could include changes in working roles if resignations are accepted.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust resignations and administration
Sources said the Trust is likely to consider the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. Both stepped down after being linked to the donation theft row. If the Trust accepts both letters, members may discuss a revised administrative structure. Sources also said the role of special invitee Gopal Rao is expected to come up.
The Trust currently has 11 regular members, including Nritya Gopal Das and Govind Dev Giri. Others include Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das, and K Parasaran. Sources said resignations and the death of Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra left no vice president for meetings.
“All the 14 trustees have been invited for the meeting. We hope that all of them participate,\” Special invitee Gopal Rao told reporters. \”He added that the Trusts treasurer, Govind Dev Giri, has sent information to all of them.\”
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust SIT probe and police case
Trust sources said members may receive a briefing on the SIT’s interim findings. The SIT is carrying out an administrative probe, and its tenure has been extended till the end of July. Police are also investigating after an FIR was lodged on the Trust’s complaint, creating two parallel inquiries into the alleged embezzlement.
According to sources, Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao have given statements to the SIT and police. Sources said no FIR has been filed against any of the three Trust functionaries. The meeting is also expected to discuss future arrangements for managing the Ram temple system.
Sources said an unaudited income and expenditure statement and a balance sheet for 2025-26 may be presented. Other financial details are also expected for approval. Trust sources said members may also talk about appointing a chief executive officer. Any decision is expected to follow the ongoing probes and the Trust’s internal process.
With inputs from PTI
