The Uttar Pradesh Home Department handed over the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) final report on the Ayodhya Ram Temple donations theft case to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust on Tuesday. This report follows crucial actions taken by the department, according to sources.
The SIT, reconstituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, was formed to investigate alleged embezzlement of donations made to the temple. The newly established team includes three senior IPS officers and operates under the leadership of Inspector General Kiran S. Deputy Inspector General Somen Verma and Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Gaurav Grover also play key roles in this investigation. The earlier SIT, comprising officials like Lucknow Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, had previously investigated the case.
On Monday, the Supreme Court addressed the status report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the SIT’s probe into alleged financial irregularities within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The court ruled that this status report cannot yet be shared with petitioners or other interested parties. However, it allowed the petitioners and public-spirited individuals to submit suggestions to the office of the Solicitor General, who will forward these to the SIT for consideration.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, instructed the SIT to submit a comprehensive status report at the next hearing. This judicial oversight emphasizes the seriousness with which the Supreme Court views the investigation.
The alleged scam involves multi-lakh rupee donations purportedly stolen by temple staff and bank employees. These serious accusations have led to heightened demands for accountability from the Opposition across the political spectrum.
The police arrested eight individuals linked to this case, including Avinash Shukla, Ankalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Rama Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Rama Shankar alias Tinnu. These suspects are now in judicial remand, indicating a significant step in the investigation.
The FIR was filed on June 25 at the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station, following a complaint by Krishanmohan, a trustee. The complaint highlights a conspiracy involving temple staff who allegedly managed donations and accuses them of systematic theft and misappropriation of funds.
This scandal has sparked a political firestorm, with allegations of embezzlement laying the groundwork for confrontations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties. The ongoing probes into these allegations continue to fuel calls for accountability and an open debate on how to handle donor funds meant for the temple.
The case remains under active investigation, as authorities examine the serious allegations and circumstances surrounding the potential misappropriation of funds. The outcome of this investigation could have significant ramifications for the temple trust’s operations and broader political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh.
