Lucknow: Advocating the appointment of a full-time CEO to oversee the Ayodhya Ram Temple’s operations, Nripendra Misra, chairman of the temple’s construction committee, on Thursday said he could vouch for the integrity of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, but not for other senior members.
Speaking to TOI amid the controversy over alleged misappropriation of temple offerings, Misra, when asked whether he suspected involvement of senior office-bearers such as Rai, Dr Anil Misra or Gopal Rao, said Rai’s integrity “can never be questioned” given his decades-long association with the Ram temple movement. “However, I can’t vouch for others,” he added.
Structural Reform Needed
Pitching for structural reform, Misra said a full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or administrator should be appointed to manage the temple complex, whose operations now resemble those of a small district. “The CEO should be a senior and experienced officer,” he said, adding that the position should function under the trust but with sufficient operational autonomy for day-to-day management.
Misra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had been briefed about the issue. The PM, he added, is closely monitoring developments and views it as a case of a “broken system” that needs to be made transparent and free of loopholes.
Allegations and CCTV Footage
On the allegations, Misra said CCTV footage from the donation room is automatically deleted after 45 days, but preliminary findings have flagged “suspicious” activity, including bundles of cash allegedly being handed over to specific individuals instead of being deposited at designated points. He said the footage may identify a few employees, but involvement of others cannot be ruled out, particularly as the matter was not escalated to senior office-bearers despite the alleged continuation of irregularities.
Misra also criticised the State Bank of India, which was entrusted with handling and safeguarding temple donations, saying it “did not perform its duty”. “Surprisingly, the entire counting process was left to 44 outsourced employees,” he said.
He pointed out that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the bank clearly lays down protocols, including restrictions such as prohibiting personnel involved in counting from wearing clothes with pockets.
Disturbing Controversy
Describing the controversy as “disturbing”, Misra said any issue related to temple management naturally affects all those associated with its service and operations.
The Yogi Adityanath government has deputed a three-member special investigation team (SIT), headed by Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, to probe the allegations. Misra said he was confident the SIT would conduct a thorough inquiry.
He added that although he has visited Ayodhya twice since the allegations surfaced, he would refrain from visiting again while the probe is underway.
About the Author
Rajiv Srivastava: A journalist with over 28 years of experience, Rajiv has been writing about politics and development activities in the state. He also loves to play cricket, go on long drives, explore new places, and meet new people.
