Ram Mandir Donation Case: SIT Probe Widens as Trust Accepts Two Resignations

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has accepted the resignations of two senior members after a Special Investigation Team began looking into the alleged theft of donation money at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. According to police and news reports, eight people have been arrested in the case so far, and the state government has extended the probe to examine the matter further. In brief: A Special Investigation Team is probing the alleged misuse of donation money at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Eight people have been arrested. On July 6, 2026, the Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. The Trust has said its records of donated valuables are intact. This is a developing story, and the allegations are still under investigation. What is the case about? The case relates to allegations that a part of the cash donated by devotees at the Ram Mandir was misused before it was properly recorded. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust manages the temple and its offerings. According to reports, the concerns were first raised by a former member of the Trust's accounting team. The Uttar Pradesh government then set up a Special Investigation Team to look into the matter. Everything reported here is based on official statements and mainstream news reports, and the allegations are yet to be proved. How the case unfolded Here is a simple timeline of the main events, as reported so far. June 7, 2026 — The alleged irregularities in temple donations first came to public notice. June 23, 2026 — The Special Investigation Team submitted its preliminary report to the state government. June 25, 2026 — An FIR was registered on the basis of the preliminary report, according to police. Late June 2026 — Eight people linked to the donation counting process were arrested. July 1, 2026 — The state government extended the probe by 15 days to widen the investigation. July 6, 2026 — The Trust accepted the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra and named Krishna Mohan as interim General Secretary. The dates and details above are drawn from news reports and official statements. Some points may change as the investigation continues. How much money is said to be involved? Officials have not confirmed a final figure since the probe is still ongoing. Based on bank records, officials have estimated that around 6 to 8 lakh rupees a day may have been taken from the donations before the alleged irregularities came to light, according to reports. During the same period, the daily donations were estimated at around 16 to 18 lakh rupees. Investigators are also examining the records of gold and silver offerings donated by devotees over time. The probe is checking whether these valuable items were fully accounted for. Who has been arrested? According to police and news reports, eight people connected with the donation counting process have been named in the FIR and arrested so far. One of the accused, named in reports as Avinash Shukla, is described as a key figure in the case, with the largest cash recovery reported so far. All those named are accused at this stage. The allegations against them are yet to be proved, and the matter is before the investigating agencies and the courts. What is the investigation examining? According to reports, the Special Investigation Team is looking into several parts of the donation system. The main areas being examined include: • Video camera footage from the donation and counting areas. • Cash handling during busy periods, such as the Maha Kumbh, when donation volumes reportedly rose sharply. • Assets, property, and vehicles of the accused that reportedly do not match their known incomes. • Records of gold, silver, and other valuable offerings, and whether they were fully accounted for. What the Trust has said The Trust has said it is deeply pained by the allegations. In a statement shared with news agencies, Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said he was hurt by the alleged theft and appealed to people not to make it a political issue. He said those found guilty should receive the strictest punishment. On July 6, 2026, the Trust met in Ayodhya and accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, according to an official press release. Krishna Mohan, a retired officer, was given charge as interim General Secretary. Addressing concerns that donated valuables had gone missing, the Trust treasurer, Swami Govind Dev Giri, said the records were intact. According to reports, he said the Trust keeps a register of around 2,800 donated items, and that all of them are safe. A few items were shown to the media as samples. Political reactions The case has led to strong reactions from different sides. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have raised questions about the handling of donations and asked for a detailed public account. Some opposition leaders have sought a probe monitored by the Supreme Court. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said the alleged theft had hurt the faith of devotees and called for strict action against those found guilty. The Trust and the state government have said the guilty will be punished. DevMarg does not take any political position on this matter and reports the statements as they were made. What happens next? The investigation is still going on. The state government has extended the work of the Special Investigation Team, which is examining records, footage, and the assets of the accused. The Trust has said it is bringing in reforms to improve the handling of donations. The full facts will become clear only after the probe and the court process are complete. The bottom line The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a place of deep faith for crores of devotees across Bharat and around the world. The allegations in this case are serious, and the authorities are looking into them. At this stage, the reported points are allegations and estimates, and the truth will be established through the proper legal process. DevMarg will update this report as clear and confirmed information becomes available. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Ram Mandir donation case? It relates to allegations that a part of the cash donated by devotees at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was misused before being recorded. A police case has been registered, and a Special Investigation Team is looking into it. How much money is involved? Officials have estimated, based on bank records, that around 6 to 8 lakh rupees a day may have been taken before the matter came to light, according to reports. The final figure will depend on the investigation. Who manages the Ram Mandir donations? The temple and its donations are managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. How many people have been arrested? According to reports, eight people connected with the donation counting process have been named in the FIR and arrested so far. They are accused at this stage. Did Champat Rai resign? According to an official press release, the Trust accepted the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra on July 6, 2026. Krishna Mohan was named interim General Secretary. Are the donated gold and silver items safe? The Trust treasurer has said the records are intact and that the register of around 2,800 donated items shows all of them are safe, according to reports. The investigation is still checking the records of valuable offerings.