The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to take crucial decisions on Monday as it convenes its first meeting since allegations of theft of devotees' offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple surfaced. The meeting, chaired by Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, is expected to deliberate on the resignations of General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra, while reviewing developments in the ongoing investigation into the alleged donation theft.

Originally scheduled to be held at Maniram Das Chhawani, the meeting has been shifted to the Ram Mandir complex and will begin at 3 pm.

According to Trust sources, the resignations submitted by Champat Rai on June 26 and Dr. Anil Mishra are likely to be accepted through a majority decision of the trustees. Since its formation on February 5, 2020, every Trust meeting had previously been led by Champat Rai in his capacity as General Secretary.

Under the Trust's constitution, the resignation of a trustee or office-bearer does not become effective immediately upon submission. It requires formal consideration and acceptance by the Trust during a meeting. Similarly, the removal of a trustee requires a two-thirds majority after issuing a show-cause notice and providing an opportunity for the concerned individual to present their case.

The Trust meeting comes amid heightened scrutiny following allegations that employees responsible for counting devotees' offerings siphoned off cash and valuables. Investigators have reportedly recovered deleted CCTV footage with the assistance of forensic and IT experts. While the visuals allegedly show individuals concealing currency notes in their socks and pockets, police are continuing efforts to enhance the footage to establish clear identities.

Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das broke his silence over the controversy, describing the alleged theft as deeply painful.

In a written statement, he said he was "deeply hurt" by the incident and demanded the strictest possible punishment for those responsible. He also expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would ensure that all those involved face appropriate legal action. Appealing for restraint, he urged people not to politicise an issue that concerns the faith of millions of devotees.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged theft. The court observed that a similar matter is already pending before the Supreme Court, making further intervention unnecessary at this stage.

The petition had been filed by Lucknow-based advocate Mohit Ashok on June 12, requesting an independent central investigation into the allegations.

The controversy has also intensified political exchanges in Uttar Pradesh. Congress leader Imran Masood termed the alleged theft a serious breach of public faith, claiming that the scale of donations received by the temple warranted a thorough investigation.

On the other hand, BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh said the Trust meeting would not only review the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe but also discuss the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer and examine the Trust's financial statements for the previous financial year.

Samajwadi Party leaders continued to target the Trust's functioning, while BJP leaders accused the opposition of attempting to politicise the issue and tarnish the image of the Ram Temple.

The police investigation has also uncovered financial transactions allegedly linked to one of the arrested accused, Avinash Shukla, who was involved in counting donations. Investigators claim that despite drawing a monthly salary of around ₹15,000, he allegedly purchased a house, bought a vehicle, transferred money to his girlfriend, and gifted her an iPhone. Authorities are now examining the bank accounts of the accused as well as those of their family members to trace suspected proceeds.

Security has been tightened around the temple complex ahead of the Trust meeting, with barricades installed and vehicle movement restricted near the venue. The outcome of Monday's deliberations is expected to shape the Trust's administrative future while also influencing public confidence in the management of one of India's most prominent religious institutions.