Ram Mandir Trust Blocks VIP Darshan Digital IDs Amid Misuse Probe

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya deactivated the digital IDs of former general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and special invitee Gopal Rao. The move follows a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report that the IDs were misused to generate unauthorised VIP "darshan" passes during a broader probe into alleged donation theft at the Ram temple.

Acting general secretary Krishna Mohan ordered a "digital strike" to prevent further issuance of the passes, assigning the authority to issue VIP passes to Mahant Dinen Das. The SIT said an arrested suspect, Tinnu Yadav, exploited the system to create hundreds of illegal passes and that associates of Rai and Mishra are under investigation. The investigation began after irregularities were detected in the counting of donations, leading to an FIR, the arrest of eight persons and the resignation of the three officials.

With the IDs blocked, no "Sugam" or "Vishisht Darshan" passes can be generated through those credentials, a step the trust says is aimed at restoring transparency and trust in the temple’s administration.