Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s firm response to alleged misappropriation of Ram Mandir donations has led to resignations from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Trust members Champat Rai and Anil Mishra stepped down, according to sources.
The resignations follow initial findings by a Special Investigation Team that highlighted lapses in managing offerings at the Ayodhya temple. The first FIR was filed on the SIT’s advice by trust member Krishna Mohan, who joined in September 2025 after the death of former trustee Kameshwar Chaupal.
Uttar Pradesh Police arrested all eight named suspects shortly after the FIR. Those detained are Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu. They face charges including theft, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Corruption Act.
The state government formed a three-member SIT on June 13 to probe irregularities in collection, storage and accounting of temple donations. Preliminary findings pointed to weak staff verification, poor CCTV coverage and lapses in moving funds from the temple to the trust office and banks. Investigators are also checking records of gold, silver and other valuables offered by devotees.
