- India,
- 05-Jul-2026 06:58 PM IST
Swami Govind Dev Giri, the Treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has broken his silence regarding the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Expressing profound sorrow and shame, he issued a public appeal to Ram devotees, clarifying his position and the trust's financial integrity. He described the incident as incredible, painful, and extremely sad, stating that such an act is a direct insult to the faith of millions of devotees who contribute to the temple with deep devotion.
Personal Integrity and Financial Transparency
In his detailed statement, Swami Govind Dev Giri emphasized that he never sought the position of trustee or treasurer but accepted it as an opportunity to serve Lord Shri Ram. He made a significant disclosure regarding his personal conduct, claiming that he has never taken even 1 rupee from the trust for his personal expenses, including air travel, stay, or any other personal requirements. He clarified that the entire audited account of the funds collected under his tenure as treasurer is secure and available for inspection by authorized individuals at any time.
To ensure continuous oversight, he mentioned that Chartered Accountants from his Pune office visit Ayodhya every month to review the income and expenditure of the trust, while this rigorous auditing process is designed to maintain the highest standards of financial accountability. Regarding the acceptance of gifts and donations, he stated that since becoming treasurer, he has not accepted any cash or items personally, with only two specific exceptions. These exceptions included a donation of 11000 rupees from his late elder sister and a silver brick weighing approximately 1 kilogram from Neelam Goyal, for both of which immediate receipts were issued. Apart from these, he has not accepted any payments other than through checks.
Banking Systems and Counting Procedures
Addressing the trust's financial operations, Swami Govind Dev Giri explained that all payments are conducted strictly through the banking system. He clarified that he isn't an authorized signatory and that the trust doesn't maintain a physical checkbook; instead, all transactions are handled via direct bank transfers. This system was implemented to eliminate cash-based irregularities. Regarding the process of counting the offerings, he stated that he has never been directly involved in this task. Since he spends most of his time in Pune or traveling, the counting is managed by local trustees and a designated team.
He further revealed that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for counting offerings was developed in collaboration with the State Bank of India. Interestingly, he noted that he was shown this entire process for the first time only last month. The treasurer emphasized that how, when, and to what extent the theft occurred is a matter of investigation, and he expressed full confidence in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the police, and the judiciary.
Demand for Justice and Future Reforms
Swami Govind Dev Giri has demanded a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the matter. He asserted that regardless of how influential or prominent the guilty individual might be, they must face the harshest punishment according to the law. Looking ahead, he suggested that the trust must develop a foolproof and transparent monitoring system for offerings. He stressed the need to implement a new management system based on expert advice to ensure that every penny donated by Ram devotees is accounted for and protected.
Concluding his appeal, he expressed faith that by the grace of Lord Shri Ram, the clouds of doubt will vanish and the darkness of crime will be dispelled. He reiterated his commitment to making the Ram Lalla temple a global model of excellence and maintaining the flow of devotion until the vision of Ram Rajya is realized. He expressed firm belief that God won't allow any attempt to tarnish the reputation of Sanatan Dharma or the Ram Mandir to succeed.
