Ram Temple trust considers CEO appointment amid SIT probe into donation embezzlement

Amid the ongoing SIT probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has said that the panel is considering appointing a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), adding that the absence of a CEO resulted in the row.

CEO under consideration

Speaking to ANI, the treasurer of the Trust, Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, said that it has constituted a committee to select and recommend three names for the post of CEO, from which one will be selected. Giri further stated that the task of oversight requires discipline, which professional bureaucratic officials possess.

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"All of this happened due to the absence of a CEO, because the task of oversight requires the discipline that professional bureaucratic people bring. We didn't bring that kind of professional oversight here, and this was the result. So, we will bring one in; we have formed a committee to select and recommend three names, and we will choose one from among them," Giri said.

On Champat Rai

Elaborating further, Giri said that although he has no doubt about the former Trust general secretary Champat Rai’s personal integrity, Rai had been careless in hiring some people.

Rai's integrity", but it cannot be ignored that Rai was "careless" regarding employing some people.

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"When I say he is innocent, I mean he could not possibly have had any personal involvement in this entire scandal. I have known him for 32 years, so I cannot even conceive of him being involved in something like this. Now, that speaks to his character; we still have no doubts about his integrity. However, one has to admit that he was careless regarding his work, after all, he employed such a criminal as his driver. That man held the keys and controlled everything," he added.

Driver blamed

Rai further alleged that the arrested driver Ram Yadav (Tinnu Yadav) was to be blamed for the embezzlement, adding that he could have been pressurised by others to commit the crime.

"I believe his driver was the one who executed all of this; I even suspect the driver was connected to outsiders. They likely instigated him to do this and report back to them. I often feel that this was orchestrated by others," he said.

"All this was happening, yet no one noticed. It is a matter of sorrow, anguish, and shame for us; we feel ashamed because of it," added Giri.