Temple trust names accused in donation theft as secretary

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will appoint Jagdish Aphale as its new secretary to improve administration as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya grows.

Aphale, an IIT Bombay graduate and former project manager for the temple, was proposed for the role during internal talks. His appointment should be approved at the trust’s executive meeting on September 2, said interim general secretary Krishna Mohan.

Restructuring follows donation theft allegations

The decision follows a leadership overhaul after allegations that cash donations were stolen. In June, the trust created a special team to investigate the claims. Police later filed charges and arrested eight people based on early findings.

Champat Rai, the trust’s former general secretary, and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down amid the controversy. The trust then transferred all donation counting to State Bank of India employees, removing 36 staff from the process.

Aphale lives in Pune and holds degrees in electrical engineering. He worked with multinational firms in Europe and the U.S. before retiring. Associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he has lived at the Teerth Kshetra Bhavan in Ayodhya since his appointment as honorary project manager after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict allowed construction to begin.

Once confirmed, Aphale will manage daily operations but won’t join the trust. He will report to Mohan, who currently handles the role of general secretary. The trust is also choosing a chief executive officer and an official spokesperson, though no decisions have been finalized.

CEO selection delayed as trust reviews applications

The trust had aimed to fill the CEO position by August but postponed the decision for a month. A screening committee is evaluating three candidates from 5,200 applicants. The delay was announced during a July 22 meeting, where the secretary’s role was also created.

The changes aim to make the temple’s management more professional. The CEO, like the secretary, will be an office bearer without becoming a trust member. This structure is meant to clarify accountability as operations expand.

The trust has faced questions about financial transparency, but leaders say the updates are part of a long-term plan. The new roles will help handle rising visitor numbers, construction needs, and the challenges of managing a major religious site.

Aphale’s technical experience may assist with these tasks. His appointment comes at a difficult time, as the trust works to recover from the donation scandal.

The next executive meeting will finalize Aphale’s role and may provide updates on the CEO search. Until then, Mohan remains the trust’s public representative, managing both administration and communications.