SIT to revisit Ayodhya as probe widens in Ram temple fund misappropriation case

Ram temple. | Photo credit: ANI

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged donation embezzlement at the Ram temple will soon visit Ayodhya again to examine documents and question members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust as the investigation focuses on analyzing financial transactions and security loopholes, a senior Uttar Pradesh government official said.

The Uttar Pradesh government formed the SIT on June 13 in response to allegations of embezzlement involving cash and valuables added to the temple. The SIT submitted its initial findings to the state government on June 23, which was delivered to Additional Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad. At the time, the SIT had said that a final report would be submitted after further investigations. On July 1, the state government extended the duration of the SIT by 15 days to complete the inquiry report.

SOPs were not followed

The SIT comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General (Lucknow Range) Kiran S and Special Secretary in the Finance Department Neelratan Kumar in its preliminary report to the state government on June 23 has revealed prima facie evidence of theft and robbery during the collection of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Based on the SIT report, the Trust filed an application for registration of a First Information Report (FIR). The report suggests that required security measures and standard operating procedures such as screening, biometric attendance, restriction of personal belongings, CCTV monitoring and other safeguarding protocols outlined in the trust’s SOP were not adequately implemented.

The Congress has described the wider probe and the likely revisit of Ayodhya as an eyewash to save powerful individuals. “Such repeated visit and claims of detailed and wider investigation is eye-wash. SIT has named small people as accused in the case, big people close to the ruling dispensation are not named at all. It clearly indicates that the real violators of the law are being protected by the government. We constantly demand a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter,” Uttar Pradesh Congress unit president Ajay Rai said.

Published – 13 Jul 2026 20:34 IST