Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft: SIT submits preliminary report to Yogi

New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team probing alleged irregularities in donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya has submitted its preliminary report to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to reports. The development comes as the inquiry widens beyond donation handling to include land transactions, purchase of construction material, staff appointments, records, security arrangements and valuables offered at the temple. Trust and temple functionaries have reportedly been asked not to leave Ayodhya while the probe continues. The Uttar Pradesh government had formed the three-member SIT on June 13 after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust sought an inquiry into allegations around donation management. The team includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The SIT was asked to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days. Reports said daily updates from the inquiry have been sent to the Chief Minister’s Office. The probe began with allegations linked to donations and offerings made at the Ram temple. It has since expanded to the systems used for counting cash offerings, recording valuables, maintaining CCTV footage, appointing staff and supervising material purchases. Reports said investigators have examined financial records, bank documents, donation registers, CCTV footage and details of gold, silver and other valuables offered at the temple. The SIT has also questioned trust functionaries and temple staff linked to donation handling and cash counting. The matter has political sensitivity because it concerns one of the country’s most prominent religious institutions. Opposition parties have raised questions over the handling of donations and demanded transparency in the probe. Some opposition leaders have also sought a wider investigation into the allegations. The trust has maintained that it sought the inquiry to establish facts and counter misinformation around the temple’s donation system. The reported widening of the probe has placed attention on the trust’s internal procedures. Investigators are looking at whether donations and valuables were properly recorded, whether counting and deposit systems were followed, and whether staff responsibilities were clearly fixed. The scrutiny of land transactions and procurement has added another layer to the case. Land deals linked to Ayodhya have earlier drawn political attention, and any review of purchases made around the temple project is likely to be closely watched. The purchase of construction material is also under examination, according to reports. The temple complex has involved large-scale construction and management work, making procurement, contracts, payments and supervision important parts of the inquiry. The state government has so far allowed the SIT to proceed with the investigation after the trust’s request. Chief Minister Adityanath has also criticised opposition parties over their allegations, saying those who opposed the Ram temple movement were now raising questions over devotees’ faith. The opposition has maintained that the issue concerns public donations and must be investigated transparently. The final report of the SIT is now expected to determine whether the allegations point to individual lapses, procedural gaps or no wrongdoing.