The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is likely to appoint Ram Mandir construction project manager and RSS functionary Jagdish Aafle as its first secretary, with the proposal expected to be placed before the trust's executive committee for approval at its September 2 meeting, temple sources said.
Aafle, who hails from Maharashtra, is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has been overseeing the Ram Mandir construction project. The trust has created the post of secretary as part of a fresh round of appointments at the Ram Mandir, sources said, adding that a formal announcement may be made after the September 2 meeting if the proposal is approved.
Interim General Secretary Krishna Mohan has confirmed that Aafle’s name has been proposed for the post. The selection process for the post of spokesperson is also underway with several names under consideration, though no final decision has been taken. A resident of Pune, Aafle holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering and an MTech from IIT Bombay. He is said to have worked in India, Europe and the United States before returning to India after retirement.
According to sources, Aafle joined the Ram Mandir construction project as an honorary project manager on RSS recommendation when work on the temple began. Since then, he has been living with his wife at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra premises in Ayodhya.
The proposed appointments come after the trust announced an administrative revamp following allegations of donation embezzlement. An SIT was constituted in June after the trust sought an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of cash offerings. The SIT submitted its preliminary report later that month, following which police registered an FIR and arrested eight accused.
Following the controversy, General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra stepped down from their respective posts, while the trust began restructuring its administrative setup.
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