Former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, has accepted his resignation without resentment and is fully supportive of reforms being introduced to strengthen the management of the Ram Temple, according to the trust's treasurer, Govind Dev Giri. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Giri said he met Rai on Wednesday primarily to inquire about his health following his resignation, which was accepted during the trust's July 6 meeting alongside that of trustee Anil Mishra. "I met Champat Rai ji yesterday mainly to check on his health. He is healthy, solut

Former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, has accepted his resignation without resentment and is fully supportive of reforms being introduced to strengthen the management of the Ram Temple, according to the trust's treasurer, Govind Dev Giri. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Giri said he met Rai on Wednesday primarily to inquire about his health following his resignation, which was accepted during the trust's July 6 meeting alongside that of trustee Anil Mishra. "I met Champat Rai ji yesterday mainly to check on his health. He is healthy, solution-oriented and has no misgivings about his resignation," Giri said. Rai stepped down after allegations of embezzlement involving donations to the Ram Temple emerged. However, he has maintained that he will respond to the accusations only after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) completes its inquiry and submits its final report. In a statement addressed to devotees, Rai reiterated his intention to cooperate with investigators. A separate statement reportedly submitted to the SIT also questioned the role of the State Bank of India in the temple's donation-counting process. Despite the controversy, Giri described Rai as a lifelong public servant who remains committed to the temple's future. "He is an old veteran who has devoted his life to the country. He fully supports the new temple management system being introduced and is neither upset nor angry," Giri said. The trust is introducing a series of reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability following the alleged donation theft. Giri added that religious leaders in Ayodhya had also welcomed the proposed management changes. As part of the restructuring, former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and trustee Krishna Mohan has been appointed as the new General Secretary. Mohan had earlier filed the police complaint that led to the arrest of eight individuals after the SIT's preliminary findings indicated possible embezzlement. The trust has also established a three-member committee to identify a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The panel includes retired judge Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi, and trustee Suresh Haware. Trust members are scheduled to meet again on July 22 to review additional reforms designed to address loopholes in the temple's donation management system. The controversy began in early June after irregularities were allegedly discovered during the counting of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Following the trust's recommendation, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team. The SIT later reported prima facie evidence of embezzlement, prompting the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and the arrest of eight individuals associated with the temple's donation-counting operations. Investigations into the case remain ongoing.

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