According to sources, Bajrang Bagra has emerged as one of the leading contenders to succeed Champat Rai. Bagra currently serves as the International General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. A chartered accountant by profession and a former head of the public sector enterprise National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), he is regarded as an administrator with extensive expertise in governance, finance, and institutional management. Sources indicated that the Trust is looking to appoint a leader capable of strengthening administrative efficiency and professionalising its financial and organisational operations as it enters its next stage of development.
Sources further stated that although Champat Rai has stepped down as General Secretary, he is expected to continue serving as a trustee unless he voluntarily decides otherwise. However, an official announcement regarding the appointment of the new General Secretary is not expected immediately. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's biannual national executive meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 19 and July 20, where several key organisational decisions, including leadership transfers and appointments, are expected to be discussed.
Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra submitted their resignations after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath adopted a firm stance on the alleged theft of temple donations. Their resignations followed the submission of a preliminary report by the Special Investigation Team, which is probing the case.
According to the preliminary investigation, temple employees responsible for counting cash donations allegedly diverted funds despite the presence of closed-circuit television cameras at the counting facility. Investigators found that although surveillance cameras had been installed, the recorded footage was not regularly monitored, allowing the alleged fraud to continue undetected. Reports indicate that approximately Rs 7 crore to Rs 7.5 crore is suspected to be missing from the temple's donation collections.
Among the eight people arrested in connection with the case is Ram Shankar Yadav, also known as Tinnu Yadav, who served as Champat Rai's driver. Sources said Champat Rai has informed his close associates that Tinnu Yadav was the central figure in the alleged donation theft. According to the sources, Rai stated that Tinnu Yadav exploited the trust placed in him to carry out the alleged financial fraud.
Sources further claimed that when Tinnu Yadav realised he was on the verge of being exposed, he allegedly leaked information related to the matter to a leader of the Samajwadi Party.
The other accused currently in police custody are Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava.
The resignation of the Trust's General Secretary, the ongoing criminal investigation, and the impending appointment of a new administrative head represent a crucial turning point for the Ayodhya Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. As the investigation progresses and organisational restructuring moves forward, the developments are expected to have a significant impact on the governance, financial oversight, and public accountability of one of India's most prominent religious institutions.
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