Ram Mandir Row: Will Champat Rai, Anil Mishra Be Removed From Trust? Members To Vote On July 6

Last Updated:July 02, 2026, 09:44 IST

A proposal to remove the duo could be put to vote at the meeting, where a two-thirds majority would be required for approval

The donation theft case at the Ram Temple has triggered a fresh churn within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, with a crucial meeting on July 6 expected to decide the future of two of its most prominent members—former general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra.

Sources told News18 that a proposal to remove Rai and Mishra from the trust could be put to vote at the meeting, where a two-thirds majority would be required for approval. The trust has 12 members, which means at least eight votes would be needed for the resolution to pass.

Sources also indicated that senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionaries may attend the July 6 meeting as special invitees. The names of Dinesh Chandra and Bajrang Lal Bangra are among those being discussed.

Rai and Mishra had resigned on “moral grounds" on June 27 after the embezzlement came to light and soon turned into a political controversy, with the Opposition calling out the mismanagement and lack of transparency.

The development comes as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the alleged misappropriation of temple donations, has been granted an additional 15 days to continue its investigation, signalling that investigators believe crucial aspects of the case remain to be uncovered.

Rai, who was grilled by the SIT, had denied any role in the donation theft, adding that it was on his complaint that the suspects were arrested. Sources familiar with the investigation said Rai claimed he had been “betrayed" by people he trusted and insisted he had no role in the scam. “I was betrayed. It was I who had installed hidden cameras to catch the theft," Rai is learnt to have told police during his questioning.

Rai was questioned about the sequence of events after the alleged theft first came to light, the functioning of the donation counting system and the trust’s internal response. Police, for now, have not named him as accused in the case and are treating him as a witness.

Probe Expands Beyond Theft

Investigators are now examining what they describe as systemic lapses in the temple’s donation-counting mechanism.

According to sources, one of the key issues under scrutiny is the engagement of an outsourcing agency whose deployment allegedly violated the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ram Temple Trust and the State Bank of India for the donation-counting process.

The SIT is also examining whether employees hired through the outsourcing agency underwent mandatory police verification and background checks before being deployed in such a highly sensitive operation.

Security Protocols Tightened

Even as the investigation continues, the trust has begun plugging security loopholes that allegedly enabled the theft.

Sources said physical frisking of all personnel involved in donation counting has now been made mandatory at both entry and exit points—-a safeguard that was reportedly absent earlier.

Police have also sought another 48 hours of custody of alleged kingpin Avinash Shukla, with the court expected to decide on the request later on Thursday.

During interrogation, Shukla allegedly told investigators that stolen cash was hidden inside washrooms within the temple complex before being smuggled out in small quantities to avoid detection. He also allegedly revealed that members of the racket had carefully mapped the donation-counting centre, identifying CCTV camera locations, blind spots, entry and exit routes, and staff movement patterns.

According to investigators, the accused exploited surveillance blind spots by forming a human shield around the person allegedly removing cash from counted donations, thereby obstructing CCTV cameras and concealing the theft.

Shukla further claimed that one of the two keys to the high-security donation-counting room remained with co-accused Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, despite him having no official role in the cash-counting process. The second key was reportedly held by SBI officials supervising the counting exercise.

The biggest cash recovery in the case has so far been made from Shukla.

Political and Administrative Fallout

The July 6 Trust meeting assumes significance as it comes amid mounting scrutiny over the functioning of the Ram Temple administration following the alleged theft.

News18 had earlier reported that the investigation had widened beyond the accused arrested in the case, with agencies examining administrative lapses, accountability within the Trust’s operational structure, and the role of officials associated with the donation-counting system. Former employees had also levelled allegations against individuals linked to the trust, prompting investigators to examine broader questions of oversight.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is a News Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers. Foll...Read More

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