Ram temple trust's new CEO joins first Ayodhya meeting after donation row

Air Marshal (retd) Jeetendra Mishra, the first chief executive officer of the Ram temple trust, attended his first meeting with trust members and office-bearers in Ayodhya on Thursday after arriving in the city earlier in the day. He was briefed on the trust's functioning, including its accounting and administrative arrangements.

Mishra's appointment comes as the trust is restructuring its administration and financial management following the controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations. The case had led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary.

The meeting was held at the trust's Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Kshetra office at Ramghat. After the meeting, Mishra told reporters, "It was an introductory meeting where I met other members of the trust. I will take a few more days to understand my role and duties." Trust general secretary Govind Dev Giri said, "The trust members had a formal introduction with the new CEO today. SOPs for the CEO specifying duties and responsibilities will be made in the coming days."

Sources said Mishra is currently staying at the temple trust office and is expected to attend a couple of more meetings later in the day. The 62-year-old former Air Marshal, who headed the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor, arrived in Ayodhya from Delhi by flight on Thursday morning and visited the Ram temple to offer prayers.

Earlier, Mishra had said he was grateful to the selection committee and considered his appointment a result of Lord Ram's blessings. "I consider myself the most fortunate person today to have been given vital responsibilities twice in my life -- once for national service and now for the organisation and administration of Shri Ram's temple and for Shri Ram's devotees," he had said.

The trust on Wednesday appointed Govind Dev Giri as general secretary, Mahesh Bhagchandka as treasurer and inducted new trustees, including Madan Mohan Pandey and Nirmala Yadav. The restructuring is aimed at strengthening the trust's administrative and financial functioning amid the expanding responsibilities linked to the Ram temple.

Earlier in the day, Giri met former trust general secretary Champat Rai at Bharat Kuti in Karsevak Puram. Former trust member Anil Mishra and trust special invitee and VHP Central Advisory Committee member Dinesh G were also present at the meeting, which continued for more than an hour. The meeting between Giri and Rai was held behind closed doors. Overall, Thursday's developments marked Mishra's formal start as CEO as the trust moves to put in place a new administrative setup.