Ram temple trust to discuss SIT report on donation row on July 22

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will meet on July 22 to discuss committee reconstitution and review the SIT's final report on the alleged donation embezzlement, if available, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding donations received at the Ayodhya temple

Ayodhya (UP): Amid the ongoing Ram temple donation embezzlement row, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold a second meeting this month, on July 22. According to Trust general secretary Krishna Mohan, a special meeting has been scheduled at 3 pm in the Ram temple complex, followed by the regular Trust meeting at 4 pm at Maniram Chawni, the premises of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das.

As per the agenda circulated by Krishna Mohan in a letter to the trustees on July 7, the July 22 meeting will take up confirmation of proceedings of the July 6 meeting as well as the special meeting at 3 pm the same day.

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The trustees will also discuss the reconstitution of various committees in accordance with the Trust’s rules and deliberate on the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the donation theft, if it is available by then.

The July 6 meeting was the first Trust meeting after the alleged embezzlement of donations came to light. During that meeting, the Trust constituted a special committee to recommend amendments to the Trust deed and framed guidelines for the custody, valuation and disposal of offerings made by devotees. The meeting was initially scheduled to be held at Maniram Chawni but was later shifted to the Ram temple complex.

The proposed discussion on the SIT’s final report assumes significance as the state government had ordered an inquiry into the embezzlement of donations received at the temple. The controversy has triggered administrative and legal action, with the probe expected to be a key issue before the trustees.