India, Sept. 2 -- Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra (Retd) was on Wednesday named the first CEO of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Swami Kamalnayan Das, interim general secretary Dr Krishna Mohan, trustee Mahant Dinendra Das and treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri, among others.

There were 5,585 applications for the post, of which three candidates were shortlisted. Mishra was eventually selected to head the Trust.

The appointment comes amid the controversy over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The alleged theft led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary in June.

The app...