VHP distances itself from Rai
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which was central to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for many years, has now distanced itself from its senior leader Champat Rai and his actions as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
VHP International President Alok Kumar said their role ended once the temple was built and that managing temples is “not the job of the VHP.” He called the incident “very disgraceful, very shameful,” recognised the pain felt by donors and kar sevaks, and called for a full investigation of everyone involved.
Champat Rai, often called the “encyclopaedia of Ayodhya” for his deep knowledge of the area, has been a key figure in the Ram movement since the 1980s. He was a longtime VHP leader and became the Trust’s General Secretary in February 2020, handling daily operations and finances. After an FIR was filed and eight people, including his aide and driver, were arrested, Rai resigned on moral grounds around June 26, 2026. Trustee Anil Mishra also resigned due to increasing pressure. He denied any personal involvement in the irregularities. He was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for more than three hours on June 29 and said he responded quickly to complaints about the theft.
The eight people arrested, who worked as temple staff and cash handlers, face charges of theft, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy. Police have recovered cash, jewellery, and valuables from their homes. The investigation has grown, and Ayodhya Police, along with the SIT, are now reviewing five years of bank records, transaction histories, deposit logs, and CCTV footage to determine how much money was diverted.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has rescheduled its next meeting to July 6, instead of July 11. All 14 members have been asked to attend as the Trust prepares to decide what will happen with General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra. Both resigned on moral grounds after the donation embezzlement controversy.
The emergency session, called by Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, will decide on the resignations, introduce structural reforms, and address governance failures. Sources say the Trust plans to add more checks and balances and bring in younger members or technocrats.
The Trust is led by 87-year-old Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, a respected saint from Ayodhya’s Mani Ram Das Ki Chavani.
The Trust faces increasing pressure to restore its credibility. Moving the meeting earlier shows how urgent it is to address the fallout from the ongoing police investigation into the alleged siphoning of devotees’ offerings at the Ram Temple.
The Trust has promised to cooperate with investigators fully and said that all valuables donated by devotees are safe. The Trust itself requested the SIT probe after problems were identified in early June. This scandal has exposed major weaknesses in the temple’s internal controls, even though it receives large donations from across India and abroad. While lower-level employees have been arrested, critics, including opposition leaders, say senior Trust officials should also be held responsible for how such a large diversion could happen under their watch.
The deletion of old CCTV footage and the reported removal of an accounts officer who raised concerns have increased suspicions. The VHP’s decision to step back, while clarifying its role after the Supreme Court verdict, highlights a bigger issue: religious trusts that manage public faith and money must be fully transparent, no matter their background.
More people are now calling for independent audits, real-time digital tracking of donations, and stronger outside oversight. The Ram Mandir was built through the sacrifices and contributions of many ordinary devotees. Losing trust in its management would betray that collective faith more than the actions of a few individuals. The July 6 Trust meeting is a chance to show real commitment by making meaningful reforms.
