Lucknow: Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The move follows a formal request by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust seeking a government-led investigation into the alleged irregularities.
SIT Composition and Timeline
The SIT will be headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, a 2004-batch IAS officer. Other members include Lucknow Range IG Kiran S, a 2008-batch IPS officer who recently returned to the UP cadre after stints with the CBI and Interpol, and Neelratan Kumar, Special Secretary in the Finance Department with over 36 years of service in the state’s finance and accounts cadre. The panel has reportedly been asked to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.
Background of the Allegations
The alleged embezzlement from temple donation boxes came to light about a week ago, prompting the trust to initiate an internal probe. Sources said trust officials had begun questioning suspects and attempting recovery of funds, with informal support from local police. As public scrutiny intensified, the trust sought a formal probe, following which the state government swiftly intervened and ordered the SIT.
Scope of Investigation
Officials said the SIT is expected to visit Ayodhya soon to examine records, take over evidence collected so far, question suspects, and interact with trust officials involved in the preliminary inquiry. The SIT will scrutinize how donation collections were handled, the internal control mechanisms in place, and whether other individuals were involved in the alleged diversion of funds. Investigators are expected to examine records related to donation counting, cash handling, storage, and supervision, while also questioning employees and former staff members connected with the temple administration. The probe assumes significance given the enormous volume of donations received by the Ram Temple from devotees across India and abroad.
Trust's Response
Earlier, denying allegations that crores of rupees donated at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple had gone missing, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Saturday urged the CM to order an SIT probe into the matter. The Trust said the investigation would establish the facts and counter what it called misinformation surrounding the issue. Earlier in the day, Ram Temple construction committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra said his responsibility was limited to supervising construction-related works and declined to comment on allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of donations. Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday afternoon to attend a meeting of the construction committee to review ongoing projects related to the temple complex.
Political Reactions
The issue came to light when former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, made the allegation in a press conference last week. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also wrote on social media about alleged irregularities in the management of donations at the Ram Temple and demanded a probe. The Temple Trust initially rejected the allegations, claiming that no irregularities came to light during routine audits. However, under constant media scrutiny, it requested the CM to form an SIT.
