Ayodhya Ram temple SIT probe: Trust members asked not to leave city amid fund ‘irregularities’
Ayodhya: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has reportedly directed trust members and temple officials not to leave the city while the investigation is underway. According to the temple sources, investigators have identified discrepancies in the records related to gold and silver jewellery, diamonds, and other precious stones donated to Lord Ram.
During the course of questioning, many of the office-bearers of the temple trust were unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the same.
The sources claimed that significant irregularities may have taken place during the Maha Kumbh Mela period in January and February 2025. During this period, Ram Temple had witnessed an exceptionally large influx of devotees and a corresponding surge in offerings.
Political parties and religious organisations have alleged that funds worth between ₹200 crore and ₹1,400 crore may have been embezzled. Other allegations include claims that CCTV footage was deleted and that around 1,250 gold and silver bars are unaccounted for.
The SIT probe also covers the purchases of land in different phases by the temple trust and also the procurement of the building materials for the shrine, sources claimed. It has been alleged that the temple trust has bought lands several times more than the market rates.
The Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The move came following a request from the temple trust amid growing concerns over the handling of offerings made by devotees.
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
Reactions from Samajwadi Party and AAP
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that the BJP was deliberately slowing down the SIT investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He claimed that the delay was aimed at preventing the full facts of the case from coming to light.
In a post on X, he also took a swipe at the ongoing investigation: "The SIT should ensure that even the investigation report is not stolen. Then they will again say, wait for 15 more days. The deadline is being extended because evidence is being tampered with," he said in the post.
According to a press release issued by Aam Aadmi Party, Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said on Sunday, "First, land worth Rs 2 crore was purchased for Rs 18.5 crore. Then, land worth Rs 3 crore was purchased for Rs 24 crore, and after that, land worth Rs 9 crore was purchased for Rs 55 crore and Rs 47 lakh. Following this, cases involving the theft of donation boxes and valuable, revered Ram Shilas also came to light. All these incidents have deeply hurt and distressed crores of Hindus."
He also pointed out that while King Bharat ruled Ayodhya for 14 years by keeping Lord Ram’s padukas on the throne, those associated with the BJP have allegedly stolen the padukas themselves.