The Crossbill News Desk
The probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has intensified, with members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reportedly instructing trust officials and key temple functionaries not to leave the city before returning to Lucknow on Sunday (June 21).
Investigators are said to be focusing not only on allegations of donation misappropriation but also on the handling of precious offerings and transactions related to temple-related purchases.
According to temple insiders cited by PTI, the investigators encountered discrepancies in records concerning gold, silver, diamonds and other valuables offered by devotees. During questioning, several trust representatives were allegedly unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the inventory, storage and accounting procedures followed for these items.
Sources told PTI that investigators suspect that significant irregularities may have taken place during January and February 2025, when the Maha Kumbh Mela brought exceptionally large crowds to Ayodhya.
During this period, the temple reportedly received around ten lakh visitors daily, with donation boxes said to be filling up with cash within a matter of hours.
The SIT has also expanded its scrutiny to cover land acquisitions undertaken by the trust in different phases and purchases of construction materials.
Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, have earlier raised concerns that certain land deals were executed at prices substantially higher than prevailing market rates.
According to the report, the investigators have been digitally documenting daily statements and findings and forwarding them to the Chief Minister’s Office on an ongoing basis. A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath after completion of the inquiry.
The three-member SIT, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police S. Kiran and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan, was formed on June 13 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself after allegations of embezzlement and theft of offerings surfaced.
Amid reports regarding the progress of the investigation, the Uttar Pradesh government’s Information and Public Relations Department clarified that no report has yet been submitted to chief minister Adityanath.
“The SIT has not yet submitted its investigation report to chief minister Adityanathji in the case related to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. News reports published in some newspapers regarding this matter are misleading and factually baseless. Please do not believe unverified information and rely only on information obtained from official sources,” the department wrote in a post on X.
The clarification came as scrutiny surrounding the functioning of the trust and the management of donations continued to trigger political and public debate, with the outcome of the SIT inquiry likely to be closely watched in the coming days.
Investigators are said to be focusing not only on allegations of donation misappropriation but also on the handling of precious offerings and transactions related to temple-related purchases.
According to temple insiders cited by PTI, the investigators encountered discrepancies in records concerning gold, silver, diamonds and other valuables offered by devotees. During questioning, several trust representatives were allegedly unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the inventory, storage and accounting procedures followed for these items.
Sources told PTI that investigators suspect that significant irregularities may have taken place during January and February 2025, when the Maha Kumbh Mela brought exceptionally large crowds to Ayodhya.
During this period, the temple reportedly received around ten lakh visitors daily, with donation boxes said to be filling up with cash within a matter of hours.
The SIT has also expanded its scrutiny to cover land acquisitions undertaken by the trust in different phases and purchases of construction materials.
Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, have earlier raised concerns that certain land deals were executed at prices substantially higher than prevailing market rates.
According to the report, the investigators have been digitally documenting daily statements and findings and forwarding them to the Chief Minister’s Office on an ongoing basis. A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath after completion of the inquiry.
The three-member SIT, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police S. Kiran and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan, was formed on June 13 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself after allegations of embezzlement and theft of offerings surfaced.
Amid reports regarding the progress of the investigation, the Uttar Pradesh government’s Information and Public Relations Department clarified that no report has yet been submitted to chief minister Adityanath.
“The SIT has not yet submitted its investigation report to chief minister Adityanathji in the case related to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. News reports published in some newspapers regarding this matter are misleading and factually baseless. Please do not believe unverified information and rely only on information obtained from official sources,” the department wrote in a post on X.
श्री राम जन्मभूमि तीर्थ क्षेत्र से संबंधित प्रकरण में एसआईटी द्वारा अभी तक अपनी जांच रिपोर्ट मुख्यमंत्री @myogiadityanath जी को प्रस्तुत नहीं की गई है।
— Information and Public Relations Department, UP (@InfoDeptUP) June 22, 2026
इस संबंध में कुछ समाचार पत्रों में प्रकाशित खबरें भ्रामक एवं तथ्यहीन हैं। कृपया अपुष्ट सूचनाओं पर विश्वास न करें तथा केवल…
The clarification came as scrutiny surrounding the functioning of the trust and the management of donations continued to trigger political and public debate, with the outcome of the SIT inquiry likely to be closely watched in the coming days.
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