India, June 27 -- Allegations of irregularities in the collection of donations to the Ram Temple snowballed into a major controversy on Friday after the arrest of eight men connected to the temple management, the recovery of nearly Rs.80 lakh from their homes and the resignation of two prominent members of the temple trust.

The dramatic developments came a day after the Uttar Pradesh Police lodged a first information report (FIR) on a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in connection with the allegations, naming an aide of the trust's general secretary Champat Rai and seven others.

Rai and prominent trust member Anil Mishra resigned on Friday, said people aware of the matter. There was no official confirmation of ...