{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Ayodhya Trust Meeting Set to Decide Fate of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra Amid Donation Theft Row",
  "summary": "Amid the investigation into an alleged donation theft at the Ram temple, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust holds a crucial meeting on Monday where the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra could be decided, while names linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are being discussed for induction into the trust.",
  "content": "Ahead of a crucial Monday afternoon meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, sources have revealed significant developments. Trust general secretary Champat Rai is said to be under sustained pressure to step down from his post, although it is believed he could continue as a regular member of the trust. At the same time, there are indications that trust member Anil Mishra could be removed altogether. Speculation is rife that the vacancies could be filled by Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Bajrang Bangarh and Bajrang Dal national coordinator Neeraj Daunaria. This entire episode is unfolding against the backdrop of an investigation into alleged irregularities in donations received at the Ram temple, which has stirred considerable unease within the temple's management.\n\nThe meeting, scheduled to begin at 3 pm at the guest house within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex, was earlier reported to be held at Maniram Chhawni before the venue was shifted to the temple complex itself. Formal invitations have already been sent to all 14 trustees of the trust. Special invitee member Gopal Rao said that treasurer Govind Dev Giri has informed all trustees about the meeting, and the trust expects every member to attend.\n\n \n\nManagement to stay with the trust for now, no separate board or CEO under consideration\nAccording to sources, the meeting is expected to clarify that the responsibility for running and managing the Ram temple will, for now, continue to rest with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself. There is currently no plan to set up a separate board or appoint a CEO for temple operations. Instead, the trust is expected to take strict and effective steps on its own to fix administrative shortcomings, make financial management more transparent, and rebuild devotees' trust. The meeting is also likely to see detailed discussion on establishing better coordination between the SIT investigation and temple management, and on clearing up the confusion that has emerged following recent events. In other words, a major structural overhaul appears to be off the table for now, even as the trust prepares concrete steps to tighten internal accountability and transparency.\n\nThe order of speakers, and preparations for a vote on the resignations\nSources have also outlined the likely sequence of the meeting. Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das will first explain the purpose of calling the meeting. Champat Rai will then speak, briefing the trust on how the theft incident occurred and what steps have been taken since. Anil Mishra will speak third, presenting his side. Treasurer Govind Dev Giri will then explain the trust's rules regarding funds and where the lapses occurred. Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati will speak next, followed by Paramanand Giri Maharaj, who is expected to suggest what decision should now be taken. Swami Vishvaprasannatirtha Maharaj will also share his views, after which Mahant Dinesh Das and K Parasaran will speak. Krishna Mohan will speak last, explaining the factual basis on which the FIR was filed. Following this, Govind Dev Giri is expected to move a proposal for voting. Sources say the resignations of both Champat Rai and Anil Mishra could be accepted through this vote. Both are then expected to formally offer to step away from the trust citing health reasons. After that, proposals to induct some new names into the trust, including that of Bajrang Bangarh, could be taken up and put to a vote. However, some larger decisions may have to wait for the trust's next meeting.\n\nWho is attending the meeting\nGovernment of India secretary Prashant Lokhande and the state's principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad will join the meeting via video conferencing. Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the temple construction committee, will not travel to Ayodhya today, but he too will be part of the trust members' meeting. Also present will be Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati, Yugpurush Paramanand ji Maharaj, treasurer Govind Dev Giri, member Krishna Mohan, member Dinendra Das, Udupi Pithadhishwar Vishwa Tirtha Prapannacharya ji Maharaj, and a senior member of the trust. Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das will join the meeting via video conferencing from his residence. If the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra are accepted, running the Ram temple's administration smoothly will become a major challenge for the trust. The names of Vishwa Hindu Parishad central advisory committee members Rajendra Singh Pankaj and Dinesh ji could also come up for discussion as potential new trustees. The meeting will also review the SIT's report on the alleged donation embezzlement case, along with the income and expenditure accounts for financial year 2025-26, and discuss future arrangements to handle the growing number of devotees.\n\nEarlier, at a closed-door meeting at Vaidehi Bhavan, treasurer Govind Dev Giri had called in Vishwa Hindu Parishad central advisor Dinesh ji, where VHP general secretary Bajrang Bangarh also arrived. During that meeting, deliberations took place on the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, along with the possibility of some Vishwa Hindu Parishad members joining the trust. Bajrang Bangarh himself reached Ayodhya to attend the trust meeting, and Rajendra Singh Pankaj is also reported to be present.\n\nNew details emerge on how the accused in the donation theft case spent the money\nPolice investigating the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple have obtained new information about the movement of money. Accused Avinash Shukla told police during custodial interrogation that he had spent an additional 19 lakh rupees on his family and friends. Investigators found that Avinash allegedly gave around 6 lakh rupees for one brother's wedding, and 5 to 6 lakh rupees to another brother. Police also learned that he had bought a car worth roughly 3.5 lakh rupees. Sources claim Avinash transferred about 2.5 lakh rupees to a friend and also gifted the same person an expensive mobile phone. The interrogation further revealed that smaller sums of money were distributed to several other people as well. A total of 20.39 lakh rupees in cash, 1,121 US dollars, gold and silver jewellery, other valuables, and an SUV were recovered from Shukla.\n\nHigh Court dismisses plea seeking CBI probe\nThe Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged donation theft case at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple trust. Petitioner Mohit Ashok had sought a direction to hand over the probe to the CBI. Appearing for the state government, AAG Vinod Shahi and CSC Shailendra Singh argued that a petition on the same subject was already pending before the Supreme Court, and therefore there was no justification for a separate hearing on this plea. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench of Justice Rajan Rai and Justice Manjeev Shukla dismissed the petition.\n\nMahant Nritya Gopal Das's letter demands strict punishment\nMahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Nyas, has written a letter on the matter. In it, he said he is deeply hurt by the theft at the Ram temple and that whoever committed this sin should be given the harshest possible punishment. He wrote that he has complete faith in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and expressed confidence that CM Yogi and PM Modi will ensure that everyone involved in this act is punished. He described it as a matter of faith for crores of Hindus, and appealed that no one should use the issue for personal political gain.\n\nPolitical statements intensify\nUttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, commenting on the Ram temple donation theft controversy, said the incident in Ayodhya Dham is unfortunate. He said all of India, and every child of Sanatan culture, knows that the Samajwadi Party and Congress had opposed the construction of the Ram temple. He alleged that these parties had even filed affidavits in court claiming it was not clear whether Ram Lalla was actually born in Ayodhya. Pathak further claimed that when the Ram temple was being built, the same people had branded those associated with the construction as land mafia, and said Lord Ram would never forgive the remarks made against him by the Samajwadi Party and Congress.\n\nAam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal also reacted sharply on social media. He wrote that the damage and disrespect done to Hindu dharma by those involved in this incident was perhaps greater than anything done by invaders in India's 5000-year history. He said Hindus have never been looted the way they have been in this case, and called those responsible a stain on Hindu dharma, demanding an apology to the entire Hindu community.\n\nMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took aim at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, saying he was glad Thackeray had remembered Lord Ram. He said Thackeray had forgotten Ram, which is why he finds himself in his current situation, and that if he follows the path shown by Lord Ram, it will only benefit him. Fadnavis added that Thackeray should now recite the Ram Raksha Stotra every day.\n\nShiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said that after a struggle of 500 years, devotees finally got the temple of Ram Lalla, and the atmosphere all around resembles Holi and Diwali. However, he said, when it becomes known that some miscreants have entered the Ram temple that devotees hold sacred and are stealing from it, it is deeply painful, and that is why people have gathered in protest.\n\nWhat happens next\nTaken together, Monday's meeting is being seen as a defining moment for the Ram temple trust in Ayodhya. On one hand, the SIT investigation into the donation theft case is progressing and a legal battle is ongoing in court; on the other, a major reshuffle within the trust's leadership appears to be taking shape. Deciding the fate of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, inducting new members, tightening financial transparency, and planning for the rising number of devotees are all expected to be discussed at the meeting. However, sources have made clear that some major, final decisions may still have to wait for another meeting of the trust.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis story is primarily about the administrative structure of the Ram temple trust and the experience of devotees visiting Ayodhya.\n\n• Across India: Changes in leadership and financial transparency at one of the country's most prominent temple trusts affect the trust of crores of devotees nationwide, keeping this a topic of wide religious and social interest.\n• In Ayodhya: If the trust's leadership changes and new transparency measures are put in place, devotees visiting Ayodhya could see improved monitoring of donations and tighter security arrangements at the temple.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What is the main decision expected at the Ram Mandir Trust meeting?\nThe meeting is expected to decide on the resignations of general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, and will also review the SIT report on the donation theft case along with financial matters.\n\n2. Will Champat Rai leave the trust entirely?\nSources say Champat Rai may step down as general secretary but could continue as a regular member of the trust.\n\n3. Who might replace Anil Mishra in the trust?\nIf Anil Mishra is removed, VHP general secretary Bajrang Bangarh and Bajrang Dal national coordinator Neeraj Daunaria are being discussed as possible new trust members.\n\n4. When and where is the meeting being held?\nThe meeting is being held Monday at 3 pm at the guest house within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex, though it was earlier planned at Maniram Chhawni.\n\n5. Why was the demand for a CBI probe rejected?\nThe Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissed the plea for a CBI investigation because a petition on the same subject is already pending before the Supreme Court.\n\n6. Where did accused Avinash Shukla spend the stolen money?\nShukla told police he spent about 19 lakh rupees on his family and friends, including money for his brothers, buying a car, and gifting cash and a mobile phone to a friend.\n\n7. What did police recover from Avinash Shukla?\nPolice recovered 20.39 lakh rupees in cash, 1,121 US dollars, gold and silver jewellery, other valuables, and an SUV from him.\n\n8. What did Mahant Nritya Gopal Das demand in his letter?\nHe demanded the harshest punishment for those involved in the theft and expressed trust in CM Yogi Adityanath and PM Narendra Modi, appealing to everyone not to politicise the issue.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/ayodhya-nyasa-baithaka-men-aja-taya-hoga-champat-rai-aura-anil-mishra-ka-bhavishya-nae-cheharon-ki-entri-ki-charcha-5196",
  "category": "Uttar Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-06",
  "tags": [
    "Ram Mandir Trust",
    "Champat Rai",
    "Anil Mishra",
    "Ayodhya donation theft",
    "Vishwa Hindu Parishad",
    "SIT investigation"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}