Ayodhya Ram Temple theft a disgraceful blot, says Nripendra Mishra

Ayodhya,UPDATED: Jul 11, 2026 23:14 IST

Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra on Saturday described the donation theft at the Ayodhya temple as a "disgraceful blot", saying everyone connected with it felt deeply humiliated and let down. He also said the temple management system would be improved to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Speaking ahead of the second day of the committee's meeting, Mishra said the issue now related to temple management. He also referred to steps being taken within the trust, including the setting up of a high-level panel to suggest a name for the appointment of a chief executive officer, while the trust is due to meet again on July 22 to discuss measures to improve the management system.

Mishra, who arrived in Ayodhya on Friday for the first day of the Ram Temple Construction Committee's meeting, told reporters, "This (alleged donation theft) is a disgrace, and we all are not just apologetic but feeling humiliated and let down by it."

He added, "This is (now) an issue pertaining to temple management, and the management would surely be improved to guard against a repeat of this (alleged donation theft)."

Mishra, who was among the first to raise the demand for the appointment of a temple trust CEO, said a high-level committee had been set up to suggest a suitable name.

There has been speculation that the trust may be open to appointing a woman CEO, but he did not comment on it. "You are aware, a (retired) judge is heading the committee for the appointment of a CEO. It will submit its recommendations to the trust, which will take a call on the issue," he said.

After accepting the resignations of temple trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra amid the donation theft controversy, the trust will meet again on July 22 to decide on steps to improve the temple management system.

Mishra said he had no idea about the agenda for that meeting. Krishna Mohan, the interim general secretary of the trust, also attended the committee's meeting on Friday.

Before the second day of the committee's meeting began, Mishra said he had reviewed the ongoing construction work. "Yesterday, I reviewed the ongoing construction work. The work on the old temple, which is being developed as a memorial, is nearly finished. The only thing remaining is the arrangement for the flame that will burn 24x7," he said.

He added, "The second aspect involves the main memorial structure, which is expected to be finished by the end. Thus, the final phase of the temple construction work will be over by July 30."

He said some other projects, including a 4-kilometre-long boundary wall and work on the auditorium outside the temple complex, may be completed by November-December.

Mishra also said work on the Ram Katha Museum was progressing. "Additionally, there is the Ram Katha Museum, which involves 20 galleries. The storyline for the museum has been finalised.

The final shape regarding the type of video content will be decided in our meetings this time," he said. Overall, Mishra said the focus remained on tightening temple management after the donation theft controversy while taking the final phase of the temple construction towards completion.

- Ends