Is Bajrang Lal Bagra to replace Champat Rai? Speculation mounts amid string of Ram Mandir donation thefts | Today’s news
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary Bajrang Lal Bagra has been tipped to replace Champat Rai as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust accepted his resignation during a key meeting on Monday, July 6 amid a controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations.
According to PTI, citing sources, discussions are on for the resignation of Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra, with the Trust expected to approve both.
Seven of the nine permanent members of the Trust, including Trust President Nritya Gopal Das, attended the meeting, which began at 3.15 pm at a guest house in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. Rai and Mishra were absent from the meeting, sources added.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
Bajrang Lal Bagra, a Chartered Accountant from the Sikar region of Rajasthan, is the International General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad since February 2024. He has served in various leadership roles within the VHP and previously headed the National Aluminum Company Limited as its CMD.
The Trust is considered an independent organization not owned or controlled by the government, which exempts it from the RTI Act. The Central Information Commission ruled that the Trust does not qualify as a public body because it does not receive government funding.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations and was recently granted an extension of 15 days to widen the scope of their investigation and ensure a comprehensive probe into the case.
Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have resigned from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust as a moral response to emerging allegations of embezzlement of donations linked to the temple’s finances, amid a growing political controversy.
In response to the donation theft controversy, security has been beefed up around the Ram Temple complex, with additional police deployed and restrictions on private vehicle movement to increase security during critical meetings.
According to Trust sources, the meeting is expected to review the progress of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged donation theft, consider the resignations of Rai and Mishra and, if the resignations are accepted, discuss the filling of the resulting vacancies in the Trust.
Read also | Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft row: Priyank Kharge hits out at RSS
While speculation was widespread that the resignations had been accepted, no official confirmation was issued.
Who is Bajrang Lal Bagra?
A native of Rajasthan’s Sikar district, Bajrang Lal Bagra is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in the corporate sector as well as VHP.
He has been serving as the International General Secretary of the VHP since February 2024, when he was elected to the post at a meeting of the organization’s Pranyasi Mandal and Steering Committee in Ayodhya.
Before assuming full-time responsibilities within the VHP, Bagra had a long career in the public sector. He headed the National Aluminum Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna public sector undertaking under the Union Ministry of Mines, as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). He previously held the positions of Director (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer at NALCO and RITES Ltd where he gained significant experience in finance, corporate management and administration.
Read also | The Ram Mandir saga: devotion meets disillusionment
After voluntary retirement from NALCO, Bagra switched to organizational work with the VHP. Since then, he has held several key leadership positions, including that of Joint General Secretary, and also served as President and CEO of Ekal Abhiyan.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the Ram temple complex and additional police officers have been deployed at key locations and access roads. Authorities shifted the meeting venue from Mani Ram Das Chhawani to the temple complex citing security concerns.
Read also | Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft row: Rely on today’s key meeting
Restrictions were also imposed on the movement of private vehicles, including vehicles belonging to media personnel, near the temple complex.
Das is demanding the strictest punishment for the accused
Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Trust president Nritya Gopal Das issued a statement expressing anguish over the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Lalla temple and said those found guilty should face the strictest punishment.
He also expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying that anyone linked to the alleged wrongdoing would be brought to justice. Das further urged that the issue, which he described as a matter of faith for millions of Hindus, should not be politicized.
(This story was published before the Trust appointed Krishna Mohan as Interim General Secretary. At a press conference after the key meeting, Treasurer Govind Giri announced that Mohan would take over as Interim General Secretary, replacing Champat Rai)
