Ram temple trust’s first chief executive officer (CEO), Air Marshal (retd.) Jeetendra Mishra, on Thursday (September 3, 2026) attended his first meeting with members and office-bearers after reaching Ayodhya, where he was briefed on the trust’s functioning, including its accounting and administrative arrangements.

The meeting was held at the trust’s Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Kshetra office at Ramghat.

“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,” Air Marshal (retd.) Mishra told reporters after the meeting.

The trust’s 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.” Air Marshal (retd.) Mishra is currently staying at the temple trust office and is expected to attend a couple of more meetings later in the day, sources said.

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, Air Marshal (retd.) Mishra 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 CEO’s appointment comes as part of the trust’s efforts to overhaul the administration’s functioning following the controversy over alleged embezzlement of temple donations, which led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary.

The trust on Wednesday (September 3, 2026) 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 associated with the Ram temple.

Earlier in the day, Mr. 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 during the meeting, which continued for over an hour.

The meeting between Giri and Rai was held behind closed doors.

Facing flak over donation theft allegations, the Ram temple trust will hold its first meeting on Monday (July 6, 2026) since the row erupted to decide on the resignations of its general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra and may be briefed on the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Ahead of the meeting, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri distanced himself from the controversy, saying he had no role in the daily donation process. He said that all audit reports were “safe” and any authorised person can look into them.

“The extent of the unfortunate theft, when and how it occurred, is part of the investigation. The probe should be impartial. The court will do its job. We have faith in the SIT and the police. No culprit should be spared. Everyone should have full faith in the investigation and the judiciary. We are all with the truth,” Giri said in a statement.

According to sources, statements from Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and special invitee Gopal Rao have been recorded by both the SIT, formed by the Uttar Pradesh government, and the police, which are probing the donation theft allegations. However, no FIR has been filed against any of the Trust functionaries.

The opposition on Sunday stepped up attack on the BJP and RSS, with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray launching the “Ram Raksha” agitation over the alleged donation embezzlement.

“It is unfortunate that those looting Hindus are in power. A robber cannot be asked to probe his robbery. It has to be done impartially,” mr. Thackeray said at a rally in Mumbai.

He said he was worried about what would happen in Kashi and Mathura, referring to the slogan “Ayodhya toh jhanki hai, Kashi, Mathura abhi baaki hain [Ayodhya was a trailer, and Kashi and Mathura are yet to come]”, often used by Hindu outfits.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the BJP and RSS were responsible for an alleged “₹20,000 crore loot” linked to donations made in the name of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The BJP hit back, with party chief Nitin Nabin saying the parties which are now speaking about faith have a history of “insulting” Hindu faith and opposing the Ram Temple Movement.

“We will take action, and we will rectify shortcomings wherever necessary. But these anti-Hindu forces, which have always insulted Hinduism, Hindu gods and goddesses, and played with our faith, have no moral right to preach politics to us. Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal, do not think Hindu society is so weak that it will fall into your trap,” Mr. Nabin said in Lucknow.

Meanwhile, the Vishva Hindu Parishad has written to Ayodhya police, urging it to examine the claims made by several opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, and summon them to substantiate the allegations related to temple donations.

The RSS affiliate demanded that action be taken against them if it is found that they have made “wild allegations” intended to create and promote feelings of “hatred, ill will and enmity”.

The letter dated July 4 was sent to Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari, the investigating officer in the case, by VHP international president Alok Kumar.