Ram Temple Trust Ceo Selection Shortlist 3 Candidates Donation Row Ayodhya

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Wednesday is likely to induct three new members. The names of those being considered haven’t been disclosed, but sources said Madan Mohan Pandey, Nirmala Yadav and Mahesh Bhagchandka are likely in the running.

The moves follows the row over alleged theft of offerings, leading to increased scrutiny of the Trust’s financial management. Eight accused have been arrested in the case, while three officials, including former Trust general secretary Champat Rai, have stepped down from their posts.

The Trust had earlier accepted the resignations of two key members, general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, and appointed senior RSS functionary and retired Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Krishna Mohan as interim General Secretary.

Rai and Mishra had tendered their resignations after an FIR was lodged on June 25 and eight arrests were made in connection with the case.

In a post on X, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra said, “The comprehensive, transparent, and technology-enabled process for selecting the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has been completed… After reviewing 5,585 applications, the selection committee held detailed discussions with 16 candidates. Today, the committee submitted the final panel of three highly qualified candidates to the Trust, which will make the final decision and official announcement.”

The committee said the selection process was conducted through a multi-tiered evaluation combining AI-enabled technology with manual assessment.

According to a statement from the panel, teams worked simultaneously across Delhi-NCR, Pune and Sambalpur to screen and shortlist candidates in a “rigorous” and “transparent” process.

After the initial screening, the names were narrowed down to 16. They participated in online interactive sessions between August 3 and 6, followed by face-to-face interactions in Ayodhya on August 11 and 12.

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More