The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple has submitted its preliminary report to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad, raising serious concerns about the mechanisms used for counting, monitoring, and managing donation funds.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the SIT has identified significant shortcomings in oversight and accountability within the temple’s donation management system. The preliminary findings reportedly point to procedural lapses that may have created opportunities for irregularities in handling funds contributed by devotees.
Sources said that no individual has been exonerated at this stage, indicating that the investigation remains open-ended and that all possible angles are being examined. The SIT has scrutinized the process through which personnel responsible for counting donations were selected and has also examined their alleged links with certain office-bearers associated with the temple trust.
The probe has further extended to the role of officials entrusted with the temple’s internal administrative arrangements. Investigators are examining whether adequate checks and balances were in place and whether any negligence or misconduct contributed to the alleged discrepancies.
Given the complexity and sensitivity of the matter, the SIT has requested additional time to complete its investigation. It has also sought the deployment of more officers to assist in conducting a thorough and comprehensive inquiry.
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted the SIT on June 13 following a request from the temple trust after allegations surfaced regarding the possible misappropriation of donation funds. The move was aimed at ensuring an impartial investigation into claims that generated widespread public attention.
Speaking to PTI Videos, SIT chief and senior police officer Gyaneshwar Tiwari Pant confirmed that the team had submitted its initial findings based on the evidence and information collected so far. However, he emphasized that the report represented only a preliminary assessment and that a final report would be prepared after further examination.
Pant declined to reveal details of the report, citing the confidential nature of the ongoing investigation. He stated that the SIT could revisit Ayodhya if necessary to gather additional evidence, verify facts, and examine fresh leads that may emerge during the course of the probe.
The controversy gained political momentum on June 7 when Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav referred to reports claiming that crores of rupees received as donations at the Ram Temple were unaccounted for. He urged the judiciary to take cognisance of the allegations and called for greater transparency in the investigation.
Yadav also demanded regular updates on the SIT probe, alleging that public confidence in investigative agencies had been weakened by what he described as widespread corruption under the BJP-led government.
As the investigation progresses, the findings of the SIT are expected to be closely watched by both political stakeholders and the public, given the significance of the Ram Temple and the large volume of donations it receives from devotees across the country. The final report is likely to play a crucial role in determining accountability and recommending reforms to strengthen transparency and financial oversight in temple administration.
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