SIT submits preliminary report in Ayodhya row
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya submitted its preliminary inquiry report to the Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday.
Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, who heads the three-member SIT, handed over the report to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad. The final report is expected to provide more comprehensive findings and recommendations.
Officials confirmed that the investigation is still underway, with further facts and evidence being gathered. The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Government on June 13 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple, following allegations of financial irregularities in handling devotee offerings.
The allegations gained traction on June 7 when Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav cited media reports claiming that crores of rupees from donations offered at the Ram Temple were missing. Yadav urged the courts to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and demanded daily briefings on the SIT investigation. He alleged that public trust in investigative agencies had eroded due to what he described as “widespread corruption under the BJP Government.”
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is one of India’s most significant religious landmarks. Located at the site revered as Lord Rama’s birthplace, it was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict that cleared the way for construction. Since then, the temple has attracted lakhs of pilgrims’ daily and generated substantial donations in cash, gold, silver, jewellery, and other valuables.
These offerings support the trust’s temple maintenance, security, development works, and charitable initiatives. Questions about their management have drawn widespread attention and underscored the need for transparency.
The temple trust’s request for an SIT probe reflects its stated commitment to addressing concerns and upholding accountability. The three-member team, led by Pant and including senior police officers, spent several days in Ayodhya questioning trust officials, staff, and others, while reviewing records and examining evidence, including CCTV footage.
The episode has sparked political debate. The opposition, led by the Samajwadi Party, has called for greater transparency and swift resolution. The temple trust and the state government have said that the inquiry was initiated to ensure proper scrutiny and that it will be conducted fairly.
As the SIT continues its work and prepares the final report, attention remains on Ayodhya. The outcome is expected to clarify the allegations and may recommend measures to strengthen oversight and transparency at the temple.
Sources say the SIT has found systemic lapses in donation handling, including negligence in cash withdrawals from hundis, transport to counting centres, the counting process, and the movement of cash to the bank.
Inadequate CCTV surveillance and monitoring were also cited. Employees allegedly positioned themselves in front of cameras before incidents.
Poor employee verification and hiring practices were also noted, including reliance on recommendations and examples of familial appointments in cash-counting roles.
Non-adherence to the prescribed dress code or uniforms by staff handling cash was also reported.
A lack of proper checks on what employees carried into or out of the premises was also noted.
Discrepancies in valuables were also reported, with issues in documentation, inventory, storage, and accounting for gold, silver jewellery, precious stones, and diamonds offered by devotees. Trust officials reportedly could not provide satisfactory explanations for certain records.
The probe was expanded to include high-traffic periods, such as Maha Kumbh donations, as well as land purchases by the trust and procurement processes.
Around 150 individuals surfaced during questioning, and action is reportedly likely against approximately 25 persons, though figures vary slightly across reports.
Recoveries reportedly total around Rs 2 crore, based on information from the primary accused or employees.
SIT is believed to have recommended certain steps to improve systems for cash handling, counting, CCTV coverage, employee verification, and overall transparency.
Appoint a professional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the temple trust, modelled on arrangements at Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Take action against personnel involved in counting and banking processes; the SIT reportedly ensured the removal of previously involved staff. Possible broader measures include a five-year audit of donations and tighter oversight of trust operations.
