E IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur Enters Race For Ram Mandir CEO Post

Published 14 July 2026 · india

E IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur Enters Race For Ram Mandir CEO Post Written By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 15:28 IST The selection of the

E IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur Enters Race For Ram Mandir CEO Post Written By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 15:28 IST The selection of the CEO is being seen as an important step in strengthening governance at one of India's most prominent religious institutions Rapid Read E IPS officer Amitabh Thakur The race to become the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has entered the spotlight, with former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur submitting his application for the post. Thakur, a 1992-batch UP cadre IPS officer, was compulsorily retired from service by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on March 23, 2021, under relevant rules and on the ground that he was “unfit to be retained" in the public interest following multiple departmental inquiries and disciplinary complaints.

Otherwise, he would have served till 2028. After his compulsory retirement, Thakur had announced the formation of a new political party, Adhikar Sena. He had also announced he would contest the 2022 state assembly polls but refrained from throwing his hat in the ring. The race for the CEO’s post comes at a crucial time for the Ram Mandir administration. In recent months, the Trust has faced questions over the alleged theft of devotees’ offerings, prompting calls for tighter oversight and greater transparency in the temple’s functioning. Against this backdrop, the selection of the CEO is being seen as an important step in strengthening governance at one of India’s most prominent religious institutions.

All eyes are now on Ayodhya as the Trust prepares to finalise the appointment. The new CEO will be responsible for overseeing the temple’s day-to-day administration, implementing decisions of the Trust, managing finances and staff, and ensuring smooth operations as the number of pilgrims continues to grow. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is a News Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers. Foll... Read More Location: Ayodhya, India, India First Published: July 14, 2026, 15:20 IST News india E IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur Enters Race For Ram Mandir CEO Post Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.

Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...