Ram Temple donation embezzlement scandal

A major scandal erupted at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust managing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, over alleged embezzlement of donations. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of India — Uttar Pradesh found prima facie evidence of systematic theft of cash offerings by counting staff, leading to the arrest of eight individuals including Avinash Shukla, Ramashankar Yadav (driver of former general secretary Champat Rai), and others. The SIT's preliminary report flagged security lapses and inadequate oversight. In response, Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned; the trust accepted their resignations and appointed Bajrang Bagra as new general secretary and K. Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary. The trust also invited applications for a CEO and formed a search committee. The Supreme Court issued notices to the trust and directed the SIT to submit a status report. Political parties, including the India — Indian National Congress, India — Samajwadi Party, and India — Aam Aadmi Party, criticized the BJP-RSS, demanding a CBI probe and dissolution of the trust. The RSS expressed grief over the irregularities. The trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri blamed the State Bank of India for lapses in cash-handling protocols. The controversy has raised questions about transparency and governance of the temple's finances.