Ram Temple Donation Theft Row Trust Meeting Today Treasurer Distances Himself Catch Guilty Give Strict Punishment

Signalling deepening discontent within the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, its treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri sought to distance himself from the controversy and called for strict action against those responsible, irrespective of their position.

In the first detailed public response by a senior functionary of the Trust on the controversy, Giri also sought to separate his statutory responsibilities as treasurer from the day-to-day handling of donations and financial administration. In a two-page statement, he asserted that his responsibility was limited to maintaining audited accounts and records.

“The police and investigating agencies should catch the guilty. No matter how big the accused may be, they should be brought before the court and given strict punishment without regard to their name or position,” he said.

Giri’s statement came a day after Ayodhya’s Sant Mandal sought to fix accountability on the Trust’s treasurer over the alleged irregularities.

“I have never sought or made any effort to obtain any position,” Giri said, adding that he had accepted the responsibility of treasurer “only as a service to Lord Ram”. He said he visits Ayodhya “only once every one-and-a-half to two months” because of religious engagements across the country, and has never claimed reimbursement for his travel or stay.

“My responsibility is limited to maintaining audited records of income and expenditure; accepting donations, operating bank accounts or authorising payments is not part of my role… As treasurer, all audited records of income and expenditure from the beginning have been securely maintained and can be examined by authorised agencies at any time,” he said.

Explaining the accounting system, Giri said the Trust’s chartered accountants and full-time accounting staff maintain and verify the accounts every month, while he reviews the audited records during his periodic visits.

Seeking to distance himself from devotees’ offerings, Giri said, “Since becoming a trustee, I have never personally accepted any cash donation or material offering for the temple from anyone.” He said the only exceptions were donations from two close relatives — Rs 11,000 from his late elder sister and a 9-kg silver brick from another relative — both of which were immediately deposited with the Trust.

Giri said the Trust’s financial dealings are conducted entirely through the banking system. “All expenditure on behalf of the Ram Temple is made directly through banks. We do not have a chequebook, and no payments are made in cash; all transactions are through bank transfers,” he said, adding that he was not an authorised signatory to any bank account of the Trust and had no role in approving payments.

On the management of donation boxes, Giri said, “Since the beginning, I have never had any connection with the place where offerings deposited in the donation boxes by devotees are counted.”

According to him, the opening of donation boxes, counting of cash and valuables, and documentation of collections are carried out under a Standard Operating Procedure prepared jointly with the State Bank of India, and he had personally witnessed the process only once, during a visit last month.

Acknowledging that the controversy had shaken the faith of devotees, Giri proposed strengthening the Trust’s administrative framework through enhanced digital monitoring of donations, improved documentation of valuables and a transparent chain-of-custody mechanism to ensure every donation remains fully accounted for.

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More