Amidst the controversy over the embezzlement of donations, candidates for three vacant positions in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are being discussed. These positions became vacant following the departure of Champat Rai, as well as the exit of Trust member Anil Mishra and the death of Trust member Bimalendra Mohan Pratap Mishra.
The Trust plans to hold a special meeting at the Ram Mandir complex on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a regular session at Maniram Chauni. According to Trust sources, the agenda includes appointing a new General Secretary, filling three vacant seats on the Trust board, and finalizing the selection process for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the temple.
The meeting may also consider the SIT report presented by the Supreme Court regarding the alleged donation fraud. The agenda also includes verifying the count of currency notes received as donations at Ram Mandir and reviewing the temple's security measures.
Krishna Mohan has been appointed as the interim General Secretary following the departure of Champat Rai. However, Bill Baghd's name is once again actively being discussed ahead of the upcoming meeting, as the national general secretary of VHP. It is reported that he is a contender for both a position on the Trust board and the post of Trust General Secretary. His name was mentioned at the July 6 meeting, but no decision was made due to disagreements over the proposal for a new candidate.
In addition to Bill Baghd, national coordinator Bajang Dal, Niraj Danodia, was also mentioned among the potential candidates, which led to both of them being in Ayodhya on July 6 but unable to make a decision at the Trust meeting.
Many saints and spiritual leaders from Ramnagari are actively being discussed for membership in the Ram Mandir Trust. Among them are influential saints associated with the Ramanandi Vaishnav order. In addition to Bill Baghd, other names under discussion include Mahant Acharya Mitilienandanisharan from Siddhipit Hanumannivas; Mahant Kamalnandas, heir to Chauni Maniramdas Ji; Mahant Radhukar Das and Mahant Ramsharanadas from Shri Ramvallabhakund; Dr. Ramanandas and Jagadguru Ramanujacharya Swami Vasudevacharya Vidyabhaskar from Ramkata Kund.
Furthermore, Yatindra Mohan Mishra, heir to the royal family of Ayodhya and a renowned writer, is also being considered among the leading candidates. His father, Bimalendra Mohan Mishra, was a member of the Trust and the temple construction committee, who recently passed away.
The case of donation embezzlement at Ram Mandir surfaced in June, after which the Uttar Pradesh government formed an SIT. Eight suspects have been arrested so far. On Monday, the Supreme Court requested the state government to provide the court with information on the possibility of transferring the SIT investigation from the local police to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation, which could lead to the creation of a new SIT for further investigation.
A special meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, scheduled to take place in Ayodhya on Wednesday, is attracting significant interest due to several important decisions planned. Key agenda items include filling three vacant positions within the Trust, appointing a new General Secretary, and finalizing the selection process for the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ram Mandir.
Furthermore, the meeting will discuss the SIT report regarding the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ram Mandir, temple security measures, and the counting of donated currency notes.
Prior to the session, Trust member Swami Parmanand Giri emphasized the necessity of filling the vacant posts in the Trust. He clarified that these positions would be discussed first at the meeting, with decisions on other matters being made after the assembly discussion. He also noted that no specific candidates had been discussed yet.
The meeting is also considered important in light of the alleged case of donation embezzlement at Ram Mandir. On Monday, the Supreme Court requested a response from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the possibility of transferring the investigation of this case to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) instead of local police. Regarding this, Swami Parmanand Giri stated that they should wait for the existing SIT's report, as further steps can only be determined after studying this document. When asked about the consequences if the Supreme Court proposes forming a new SIT, he replied that if the current SIT is not deemed suitable, creating another SIT will not lead to substantial changes.
Swami Parmanand Giri reported that former General Secretary of the Trust, Champat Rai, and Trustee Anil Mishra had resigned. The Trust acknowledged their resignation letters at the July 6 meeting. When asked about the resignation of Trustee Mahant Dindare Das, he stated that he had no information on the matter.
Meanwhile, Mahant Dindare Das, a member of the Ram Mandir Trust and the chief mahant of the local Nirmohi Akhara branch in Ayodhya, refuted reports that he had been expelled from the akhara. At a press conference in Ayodhya, he called these claims completely baseless and misleading. He stated that 13 out of 19 panchs (members) of the Nirmohi Akhara supported him, and he also accused some individuals of organizing a conspiracy against him. Mahant Dindare Das added that the Trust meeting on Wednesday at three o'clock will discuss filling the three vacant posts. Additionally, a review of the counting of currency notes received as donations at Ram Mandir and temple security measures will be conducted. According to Trust sources, the special meeting will first take place on the premises of Ram Mandir on Wednesday, followed by the regular meeting at Maniram Chauni.
The agenda also includes the appointment of a new General Secretary, filling three vacant posts, and completing the selection procedure for the first Ram Mandir CEO. The SIT report presented to the Supreme Court regarding the donation embezzlement case may also be discussed. The Trust currently has three vacancies: two positions became vacant after the departure of former General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra, and the third position became empty after the death of Trustee Bimalendra Mohan Pratap Mishra. The embezzlement case arose in June, after which the Uttar Pradesh government formed an SIT. Currently, eight suspects have been arrested in this case.
Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust, reacted decisively to the incident of donation theft in Ram Mandir. Discussing this situation with the media on Friday, he called the case a 'stain' and noted that such an occurrence is extremely regrettable after Lord Rama settled in his magnificent temple following a long movement for Ram Mandir.
Mishra assured that the Trust took this matter very seriously and plans to make the temple's administrative systems more robust and transparent. He emphasized that maintaining the trust of pilgrims is the primary responsibility of the Trust, and necessary improvements at the administrative level will be made to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A high-level committee has been formed to appoint the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ram Mandir, which will review the candidatures of qualified individuals, after which the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust will make the final decision. Mishra stated that all steps will be taken to ensure the dignity, transparency, and smooth functioning of the temple.
Currently, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust is preparing to implement large-scale changes in the operation of Ram Mandir after July 22. These proposed changes cover improvements in visiting systems, methods of worship, Raga-Bhag rituals, donation management, security, crowd control, and pilgrim amenities. The Trust is seeking opinions from scholars following the Ramanandi tradition and saints so that the new systems become more transparent, organized, and convenient for pilgrims.
According to sources, new systems may be approved at the Trust's planned meeting on July 22. Decisions are also expected regarding the appointment of a new General Secretary of the Trust and the selection of new members for vacant positions. The Trust's goal is to simplify the visiting system, increase the transparency of donation management, and ensure greater accountability of the administrative structure.
Work is underway to improve security systems, crowd management, and the service system. The Trust's Treasurer, Govind Devagri, hinted that the systems would be improved based on suggestions from religious communities. Dinesh Chandra, trustee of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, received detailed recommendations on worship methods from Dinendra Das, Mahant Nirmohi Akhara, and a Trust member. Mahant Dinendra Das insisted on implementing classical rules and procedures for worship in Ram Mandir in accordance with the Ramanandi tradition.
