Two senior leaders of India's Ram Temple in Ayodhya have resigned following allegations that money donated by devotees was stolen. The temple is one of India's most important religious sites and was at the center of a major legal dispute resolved by India's Supreme Court in 2019 BBC.

General secretary Champat Rai and official Anil Mishra stepped down after a police complaint was filed on 25 June. A retired forest officer named Krishna Mohan, who is affiliated with a nationalist organization called the RSS, was named as the temporary leader. The trust also announced plans to create a new executive position to oversee finances BBC.

What Happened

The controversy began when a former accounts worker said he was fired after raising concerns about missing money. Police then opened a case and arrested eight people for questioning. The state government launched its own investigation team to examine whether money disappeared BBC.

Two separate investigations are now underway. The government investigation team identified 150 possible suspects by mid-June. Both the government's team and police expect to deliver final reports by late July New Indian Express.

The temple reported receiving 5.82 billion rupees (roughly 70 million U.S. dollars) in donations and spending 3.19 billion rupees on upkeep. These numbers were released publicly, apparently to show the temple's overall finances are being tracked BBC.

The Temple's Explanation

The temple's treasurer said the leaders themselves did not steal money, but rather were betrayed by employees they trusted. He also said he did not directly handle the donated cash Indian Express.

Why This Matters

The Ram Temple is not just a religious building—it is deeply connected to Indian politics. The Supreme Court case that created the temple trust was a landmark decision that shaped national headlines. Because of this, who runs the temple and how they handle money matters far beyond the temple's walls. The new leadership changes suggest the trust wants to improve financial controls while keeping the same overall direction it has followed since it was established.