NEW DELHI: Following a high-level meeting in Ayodhya, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust released details of its finances, saying that out of Rs 3,264 crore, Rs 2,370 crore had been spent on temple construction and capital expenditure, while Rs 391 crore from devotees’ offerings had been used for operational expenses. It said the remaining funds continue to remain in bank accounts. The trust further revealed that silver articles donated by devotees had been melted into bars. This comes after trust accepted the resignations of its general secretary, Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra and announced a series of measures aimed at improving transparency following the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.The Trust further said devotees who donated cash or gifts could personally verify the utilisation of their offerings by visiting Ayodhya after taking an appointment with Trust officials.The statement comes weeks after allegations surfaced that crores of rupees in donations were being siphoned off during the counting process, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT).Meanwhile, Trust treasurer Govind Giri said that 3-member committee will be constituted to interview and suggest names for CEO of Ram Temple Trust.
Trust shares financial details
In its statement, the Trust said it had received a total of Rs 3,264 crore through the Nidhi Samarpan Abhiyan and corpus donations since its formation in 2020.It said Rs 2,370 crore had been utilised for construction and capital expenditure.The Trust further stated that between its inception and March 31, 2026, it had received Rs 582 crore in offerings from devotees, of which Rs 391 crore had been spent on operational expenses.“The remaining amounts are available in bank accounts. All this financial information has been presented by the Trust to the media from time to time,” the statement said.
Devotees can verify their donations
The Trust also sought to reassure devotees about gifts made to the temple.It said 2,916 gifts in kind had been received from devotees and that every item had been entered into a register with details of the donor and date of receipt.According to the Trust, these items undergo annual physical verification by an independent chartered accountancy firm acting as the internal auditor.It added that devotees wishing to verify the utilisation of their offerings could fix an appointment with Trust officials, visit Ayodhya and inspect the records.The Trust also said silver articles donated by devotees had been melted into bars at the Government Mint. It said photographs, weight records and Mint certificates regarding purity and quantity were available for verification.
Trust accepts resignations, removes special invitee
The Trust said it was deeply saddened by the alleged irregularities in the donation counting process.It stated that after receiving preliminary information, it had itself requested the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct an impartial investigation, following which an SIT was constituted.The Trust said eight people were named in the SIT’s preliminary report, following which it filed a complaint and the accused were arrested.It reiterated that anyone found guilty should face the strictest legal action.Following the SIT’s preliminary findings, the Trust accepted the resignations of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, both of whom stepped down on moral grounds.It also decided to remove Gopal Nagarakatte from the list of special invitee members.The Trust added that trustee Krishna Mohan would discharge the duties of general secretary in an acting capacity until a permanent appointment is made.It also announced the formation of a three-member committee to recommend a suitable Chief Executive Officer to strengthen the temple’s administration.
Trust says allegations should be backed by evidence
The Trust said it intended to strengthen its management systems and would implement reforms recommended by the SIT as well as suggestions from independent experts to make temple administration more transparent and efficient.It also appealed to individuals, organisations and journalists to submit any evidence of wrongdoing directly to the SIT or investigating agencies instead of making public allegations.“The Trust firmly believes that the investigative agencies will definitely take action based on the evidence,” it said.The Trust further alleged that some people were attempting to use the controversy to weaken the Ram Temple and spread confusion, while asserting that the number of devotees visiting the temple had remained unaffected despite the allegations.
What was alleged earlier?
The Trust’s statement comes against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the counting of donations at the Ram Temple.According to sources familiar with the investigation, the SIT is probing allegations that Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh may have been siphoned off daily from donation collections before the alleged fraud came to light. The estimate was based on changes in daily bank deposits before and after the case surfaced.Investigators have arrested eight accused, most of whom were involved in counting donations. Police have recovered cash, foreign currency, jewellery, silver ornaments and other valuables from the accused during the investigation.The SIT is also examining allegations relating to recruitment of counting staff, handling of jewellery donations, CCTV footage and possible procedural lapses in the counting and storage of offerings.The Uttar Pradesh government has extended the SIT’s deadline until July 15 to submit its final report. The Trust has maintained that no conclusions should be drawn until the investigation is completed and the legal process runs its course.
