The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to hold a crucial meeting on Monday, with a preliminary report from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) concerning alleged donation theft and the potential creation of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) post on the agenda.
This will be the first gathering of Trust members since accusations of financial irregularities involving cash and valuables donated to the Ram Temple surfaced. The meeting is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. at Mani Ramdas Chavni, the ashram of Trust chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
According to details accessed by The Chenab Times, a primary item on the agenda is a discussion regarding the appointment of a CEO to oversee the management of Ram Temple affairs. This move signals an intent to professionalize the temple’s administration in the wake of recent controversies.
The agenda, comprising five key points, also includes a discussion on the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra. Both individuals, along with special invitee Gopal Rao, have faced scrutiny following the emergence of the theft allegations. The ongoing investigations into these allegations are being conducted in parallel by the SIT and the police. The tenure of the SIT has been extended until the end of July, and both investigative bodies have recorded statements from these senior Trust officials. As of now, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the three functionaries.
However, lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association have lodged a formal complaint with the police, demanding an FIR against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao. This legal action underscores the seriousness with which the allegations are being treated by local legal practitioners.
Further points on the meeting’s agenda involve the review and approval of the unaudited income-expenses statement and balance sheet for the financial year 2025-26. Other financial details pertinent to the Trust’s operations are also slated for discussion and potential endorsement. The agenda for this important meeting was disseminated by the Trust’s treasurer, Govind Dev Giri.
Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who had previously attended meetings virtually due to age-related health concerns, is currently recuperating at a hospital in Lucknow. A medical bulletin released on Friday indicated that he is expected to be discharged within the next two to three days, suggesting his potential presence or indirect involvement in the ongoing administrative matters.
Eight individuals were named in an FIR filed based on the SIT’s initial findings and have since been apprehended. While all eight were initially placed under 14-day judicial custody until July 23, investigators later sought and obtained a custody remand for Avinash Shukla, identified as a key accused. Police sources have indicated that significant evidence related to the donation theft has been recovered from Shukla’s residence in Ayodhya, potentially providing crucial leads in the investigation.
The investigations are proceeding with a focus on accountability and transparency within the Ram Temple Trust’s financial operations. The upcoming meeting is expected to address the administrative fallout from the allegations and chart a course for future management, including the potential establishment of a CEO position to streamline temple governance.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
