Ram Temple Construction Committee chief backs UP’s decision for SIT amid donation row

File photo of Ram Mandir Building Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra. | Photo credit: The Hindu

Reacting to the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Uttar Pradesh government in connection with alleged financial irregularities in donations received by the Ram Temple Trust, Ram Mandir Building Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra on Sunday (June 14, 2026) said the committee would make recommendations regarding all outstanding issues, corrective measures and measures identified.

“The most commendable aspect is that the state government has acted in less than 24 hours to form the SIT and appoint very senior officers in it…we should support this initiative considering the speed with which the state government is acting, setting a time frame of just 15 days. The interim report is to be submitted in 7 days…the committee will make recommendations regarding all outstanding issues, deficiencies identified and necessary corrective measures,” Mr. told the media. Mishahra…”

The SIT was formed to investigate allegations of disappearance of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on a request from the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust and directed to submit a final report within 15 days and a preliminary report within seven days.

The SIT members include Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.

An official statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office read: “On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and in response to the request of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the government in connection with alleged financial irregularities in donations received by the Trust.

In a cryptic message, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav reacted to the state government’s decision to form the SIT. “The origin of this conspiracy is not far, so there will be no need to go far to act. If the police fail to trace the culprit, we can help,” Mr Yadav wrote on X.

Published – 14 Jun 2026 12:27 IST