The Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust meeting accepted the resignation of General Secretary Champat Rai. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were not present and were kept away. Most of those present, including President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, were emotional. Many expressed their disapproval of the offerings. Members of the Sant Samaj said that this was a grave sin and that the trust of the Ram Mandir Trust must be restored among devotees. Mahant Dinendra Das said, “We have given our entire lives for the Ram Temple.” Swami Vishwaprasanna Tirtha also said, “This is a stigma.”
Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said that those involved in the irregularities should be severely punished. It is reported that Gopal Rao, another accused in the case, also attended the meeting but was sent away because he is not a regular member of the Trust. His role is only that of a special invitee. Members expressed displeasure over the role of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra in the meeting. Many said there was negligence in this matter, which was otherwise unlikely.
Questions are being raised about Champat Rai’s role because Tinnu Yadav, who is being described as the mastermind of the offering theft, was his driver. Furthermore, Champat Rai himself lived in Ayodhya and all the work was done under his supervision. Although he was not directly involved in any work, many people said that if there were any lapses in the system, the responsibility lies with him.
Meanwhile, there is a strong possibility that Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Bajrang Lal Bagda could replace Champat Rai as General Secretary. He is currently the General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He previously served as the CMD of the government-owned Navaratna company NALCO. He took VHP retirement and joined the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. However, it is also reported that the new General Secretary to replace Champat Rai will not be announced immediately and that this decision will be made within one to two weeks. Currently, Krishna Mohan has been given the new responsibility of the Trust.