'When there is business, there is CEO': Raut flags corporatisation of Ram Mandir

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday alleged that the appointment of a CEO for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust marked the beginning of the “corporatisation” of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.The temple trust, which manages the Ram temple, on Wednesday appointed retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as its first CEO and former treasurer Govind Dev Giri as its new general secretary. The overhaul comes amid allegations of theft of donations.‘When there is business, there is CEO’Reacting to the appointment, Raut said, “For the first time there is a CEO for Ram Mandir. This means corporatisation of the temple has taken place. When there is business, there is CEO, managing director, directors.”On Wednesday, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust selected Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.Speaking to TOI, Mishra said, “I came to know about my appointment via news, I’m yet to receive official communication from trust.”The decorated former Indian Air Force commander retired in April 2026 and will now oversee the temple Trust’s expanding administrative responsibilities. However, the standard operating procedure for the appointment and functioning of the CEO has not yet been finalised, said Govind Dev Giri, general secretary of the Trust.Mishra was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command when Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.