The investigation into the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case has moved ahead, with the three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitting its initial report to Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad. Officials said the report is based on the findings gathered by the SIT during the investigation conducted so far, while details of the submission remain confidential.
SIT member Vijay Vishwas Pant confirmed that the report has been handed over to the Uttar Pradesh government. “We have submitted the report to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home). This is an initial report and we have submitted it to him. The details are confidential, so we cannot disclose anything at the moment. We have made our findings available to him,” he said.
Authorities have not released further details, stating that the contents of the report are currently under review.
Probe followed allegations of donation misuse
The SIT investigation was initiated after allegations by former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, who claimed that donations worth between Rs. 7 crore and Rs. 7.5 crore were allegedly misappropriated from the Ram Mandir.
Following the allegations and a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 14 to examine the alleged irregularities involving offerings made at the Ram Mandir.
Supreme Court petition seeks court-monitored probe
Amid the ongoing SIT inquiry, a fresh petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged financial irregularities linked to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya.
The petition sought registration of an FIR and formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate allegations of missing funds, financial irregularities, mismanagement and other concerns related to the Trust’s administration.
Filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, the petition also sought directions to preserve all physical, digital, and financial records connected with donations and assets.
Records preservation sought
The petition requested preservation of donation registers, audit reports, CCTV footage, bank records and other documents related to the receipt, accounting and utilisation of the Trust’s donations.
It also sought directions preventing destruction, alteration, tampering, transfer or handling of any record, asset, fund, document or electronic data connected with the matter.
The petition stated that Supreme Court intervention was necessary “to preserve institutional integrity, uphold the rule of law and maintain public confidence in the administration and management of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.”
It further argued that the scope of the ongoing SIT inquiry remained unclear and that delays during the early stages of investigation could affect evidence preservation and investigative action.
The petition maintained that an independent and impartial investigation was needed to establish the facts and ensure accountability if any wrongdoing was found.
Earlier, an advocate had also sent a letter petition to the Supreme Court raising concerns over alleged misappropriation, disappearance and irregularities in handling donations and offerings made by devotees at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.