India, Sept. 2 -- The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to appoint the first full-time chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ram temple from a shortlist of three candidates selected from 5,585 applications.

The Trust is holding a meeting in Ayodhya amid the controversy over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations, which led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary.

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 were among those present at the meeting.

Kamalnayan Das, who is part of the Trust's religious affairs committee, said his priority was ensuring...