UP Govt Sets Up 3-Member SIT To Probe Ram Mandir Donation Controversy After Trust's Request

Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has set up a three-member Special Investigation Team to look into allegations surrounding the financial management of the Ram Mandir Trust and the donations collected. The SIT was constituted on Saturday on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, following a formal request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself. The team comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S., and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. They will examine the allegations and submit their findings to the state government.

Why did the Trust ask for an SIT?

Rumors have been swirling on social media for weeks about irregularities and possible discrepancies in how donation boxes at the Ayodhya temple are handled. The Trust said that, it wanted a detailed and impartial investigation to put these rumors to rest once and for all. Trust officials called it a deliberate conspiracy to damage the reputation of the shrine and hurt the faith of crores of devotees across the country. CM Yogi took the request seriously and moved quickly, putting together the three-officer team with immediate effect.

What Akhilesh had claimed?

The controversy really picked up steam earlier this month when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made a pointed claim on June 7. He claimed that the crores of rupees from the temple's offerings had gone missing. He posted about it on X, calling it deeply troubling news for Ram devotees worldwide and described the situation as deeply embarrassing for the Trust. He also urged the courts to take note of the matter. Since then, the issue has barely left the headlines. From politicians to saints and religious figures alike have been calling for answers.

What Trust had responded?

Trust General Secretary Champat Rai responded the same day, saying routine internal audits are conducted periodically at the temple and that representatives from both the Trust and State Bank of India are part of that process. He said audits typically run over several days, with the assistance of SBI representatives. Nothing unusual had come up so far.
Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das backed the organization's functioning and said they would welcome any government-ordered inquiry. That statement, oddly enough, seemed to add fuel to the fire rather than calm things down.

Political heat keeps rising?

Akhilesh has since repeated his allegations. Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh then claimed he had information about the alleged misuse of donation funds. However he declined to spell out the details. Senior BJP leader Rajnish Singh wrote directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for full disclosure of the Trust's finances, assets, donations received, expenditure, bank accounts and land transactions.
Singh argued that people who contributed to the temple's construction have every right to know how their money, jewellery and valuables are being used.
State Minister Surya Pratap Sahi said the Trust had already begun its own inquiry and would act according to its rules. He did add, however, that the matter falls primarily within the Trust's own jurisdiction.

Congress also jumped?

Congress also jumped into the discussion. UP Congress president Ajay Rai demanded that the probe be headed by a sitting High Court judge rather than government officials.
Meanwhile, Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra on Saturday distanced himself entirely from the controversy, saying his role is limited strictly to overseeing construction work. He refused to comment on any allegations related to donations or financial irregularities.