Gopal Nagarakatte alias Gopal Rao met Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri on Wednesday amid the investigation into theft of donations to the Ram temple located in Ayodhya. During this time he also talked to the media. Answering a media question, Gopal Rao said that I have not been removed from the trust. I will remain. They have only been asked to stay away from meetings for some time. In such a situation, Gopal Rao has made it clear in his statement that an attempt is being made to defame him unnecessarily.
said Gopal Rao, who was a special invitee at the trust meetings, according to an ANI report. But he was removed from the list of special invitees after the case of alleged theft in donations came to light. Gopal Rao, former invitee member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said, "See, invitees attend the meetings of the temple trust. Some people are trying to mislead people by creating unnecessary controversies. They are saying that there is some scam related to Gopal ji, Champat Rai ji and Anil ji in the Ram temple, but nothing like that has been found against us.
Gopal Rao further said, however, since the issue has been repeatedly raised in the media, the two people resigned on moral grounds and this was also accepted. On the question regarding donation, Gopal Rao said, anyone who has any doubt can come and see the donation given by him and investigate. If they do not have their receipt, they can take a copy of it. Everything is kept safe with us.”
Gopal Rao, a resident of Uttara Kannada district, has a post-graduate degree in Physics. Before coming to Ayodhya, he worked as a prant pracharak (regional organizer) for the Sangh in Karnataka. Upon his arrival in Ayodhya in 2020, he was initially appointed Assistant Construction Incharge and later Administrator. In 2025, he was inducted into the Trust as a special invitee member, although this was never officially announced. At present, Gopal Rao is holding the post of Central Joint Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Despite not holding any formal administrative or official position in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Gopal Rao is considered to be the second most influential person in the temple management after Champat Rai. Media reports suggest that he has been involved in almost all aspects of the functioning of the temple. Which includes everything from organizing programs within the premises and arranging bhog (prasad) for the deity to managing the priests.
