SIT wraps up Ram temple probe

Final report may identify those directly involved while examining supervisory failures that allowed theft

The three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Uttar Pradesh Government to investigate the alleged theft and misuse of offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, is expected to submit its final report within the next two days.

Sources said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who called on Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, is understood to have briefed the latter on the entire fiasco.

According to sources, the SIT has almost finished the report, which will likely name those directly involved and highlight others who may have played a role in the lapses that allowed the theft of donations. The SIT was set up on June 13 after a request from the temple trust. It is led by Lucknow Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant (IAS), with IG Range Kiran S (IPS) and Finance Department Special Secretary Neelratan as members. Their job is to review how donations are collected, counted, stored, and banked at the temple, which has received large offerings since its consecration in January 2024.

Sources said, while preparing its final report, the SIT has reviewed financial records, banking transactions, CCTV footage, electronic evidence, documents and statements from the witnesses and the accused. The investigation will go beyond just naming those directly involved in the alleged theft. The SIT is also looking at the broader chain of responsibility, including whether failures by supervisors or administrators allowed the alleged misuse of donations to go unnoticed.

Investigators are reviewing each step in how donations are handled, from storing and moving donation boxes to counting cash, banking, monitoring, and auditing. The investigation has already led to action.

Eight people, including donation counter staff and brothers-in-law Anukalp Mishra and Lavkush Mishra, have been arrested. Authorities have recovered about Rs 80 lakh in cash and valuables. The SIT has also found around 70 suspected cases of irregularities, pointing to serious problems in how cash is handled, how employees are verified, and how CCTV is used. Collections are transported from the temple to the trust office and banks.

The final report is expected to cover broader accountability issues, including failures by supervisors and administrators, and to examine the roles of others who have not yet been named or arrested. The SIT’s term ends on Wednesday and has not been extended, so there is pressure to submit the final report soon.

At the same time, the Supreme Court is considering several petitions asking for a CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement. On July 13, Chief Justice Surya Kant’s bench told the UP SIT to submit a detailed status report, including the team members, within a week. The next hearing is expected around July 20-21. The court has also sent notices to the Union Government, the UP Government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold an important meeting on July 22 to discuss the SIT’s final report.

The trust is expected to review the findings, consider major changes to its structure and administration, update its internal committees, and appoint additional trustees. In earlier meetings, they had already discussed the resignations of key people, including general secretary Champat Rai, whom the SIT questioned. The trust says it wants to improve governance and win back devotees’ confidence.

The controversy has led to political reactions and demands for more transparency in how temple funds are managed. The UP Government and the trust say the SIT investigation is thorough and independent. Still, those petitioning the Supreme Court want a central agency to investigate to ensure fairness and to look into broader financial issues.

The final SIT report is likely to suggest ways to improve the management of donations to prevent future problems, sources said. As the Ram temple continues to attract millions of devotees, people will be watching the outcome of the investigation and the trust’s July 22 meeting to see how they affect public trust and the temple’s management.