Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra Named Ram Temple Trust CEO
The group that manages the Ram temple in Ayodhya chose retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first CEO.
A CEO helps organize the everyday work of a large institution.
Mishra previously held senior leadership roles in the Indian Air Force and commanded the Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor.
He was selected from three finalists after thousands of people applied.
The trust said computers and people both helped assess the candidates.
The decision came after allegations that temple donations were stolen or mishandled.
Eight people involved in counting donations were arrested, and two senior trust officials resigned.
Govind Dev Giri became the new general secretary.
Three new trustees were also appointed to help manage the trust.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first CEO on September 2, 2026.
Mishra was chosen from three finalists after 5,585 applications were reviewed and 16 candidates were interviewed.
The appointment followed allegations of donation theft or embezzlement, eight arrests and the resignation of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra.
Govind Dev Giri became general secretary, while Mahesh Bhagchandka, Madan Mohan Pandey and Nirmala Yadav joined as trustees.
The trust said the selection combined AI-assisted screening with manual assessments of leadership, management expertise, integrity and vision.
- Who
- Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra was appointed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust; Govind Dev Giri became general secretary.
- What
- The trust appointed its first CEO and announced changes to its leadership and trustees.
- When
- The decisions were announced on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
- Where
- The trust meeting took place in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The changes came amid donation-theft allegations and the trust's move toward regular temple operations.
Trust officials and supporters
Accountability critics
Purpose of Mishra's appointment
Trust officials and supporters
Trust representatives and selection-panel member Suresh Haware said Mishra's leadership, discipline and management experience suited the trust's expanding operations.
Accountability critics
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav questioned whether the new arrangement would prevent further theft of temple donations and said senior figures had not faced enough scrutiny.
Selection process
Trust officials and supporters
The trust described the process as comprehensive, transparent and technology-enabled, combining AI-assisted screening with human evaluation.
Accountability critics
The allegations, arrests and reported findings that counting staff hid cash raised concerns about financial controls and oversight.
Ayodhya's development
Trust officials and supporters
Govind Dev Giri said the administrative changes would help develop Ayodhya as a major cultural and religious centre.
Accountability critics
Yadav said Ayodhya should also be developed as a world-class city and alleged that poor people were being defrauded of land.
- CEO
- Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
- Applications
- 5,585 applications were received; 3,577 candidates provided details for evaluation, according to one report.
- Selection stages
- The process narrowed the field to 108 candidates for virtual interactions and 16 for in-person interviews in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12.
- Selection committee
- Retired Justice Pramod Kohli, retired Lieutenant General Vishnukant Chaturvedi and former scientist Suresh Haware.
- Leadership change
- Govind Dev Giri replaced Champat Rai as general secretary; Krishna Mohan's interim arrangement was regularised.
- Donation case
- Eight people involved in counting donations were arrested, and an investigation by a special investigation team is continuing.
- New trustees
- Mahesh Bhagchandka, Madan Mohan Pandey and Nirmala Yadav were inducted.
- Reported discrepancy
- Reports differed on the other two finalists, identifying them variously as Major General Sanjay Pratap Singh Bisht or Major General Sanjay Singh Vishwasrao, and Shruti Hardwari or Shruti Bhardwaj.
Sources
Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra Named 1st CEO Of Ram Temple Trust; Govind Dev Giri To Replace Champat Rai
Operation Sindoor veteran is Ram temple trust's first CEO
Ram temple trust appoints retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as first CEO
Sindoor veteran Air Chief Marshal Jeetendra Mishra (retd) first CEO of Ram temple trust - Telegraph India
Former Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra appointed Ram Mandir Trust CEO
Air Marshal (retd) Jeetendra Mishra is Ram temple trust CEO
