Ayodhya Ram temple probe: SIT bars trust officials from leaving city

The SIT probing the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ayodhya Ram temple has reportedly instructed its trust and temple functionaries not to leave the city.

News agency PTI cited temple sources as saying that the investigators have found discrepancies in documentation of offerings like gold, silver and precious stones. The three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) reportedly issued the instruction before they left for Lucknow on Sunday (June 21).

Key findings of the SIT

The sources told PTI that one of the key findings of the SIT pertains to the records of gold and silver jewellery and other precious stones, including diamonds, offered by devotees to Lord Ram.

According to them, the investigators found discrepancies in the documentation and accounting of such offerings. During the course of questioning, several office-bearers of the temple trust were reportedly unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the inventory, storage and accounting of gold, silver ornaments and other valuable items received as offerings.

Also read: Ayodhya Ram temple multi-crore donation scam: What we know so far

The temple trust has, however, maintained that internal audits are underway and that no evidence supporting the allegations has been found so far.

Scanner on Maha Kumbh donations

The unnamed sources reportedly alleged that major irregularities may have occurred during the Maha Kumbh Mela in January-February 2025, when the temple witnessed an unprecedented influx of devotees.

They said nearly 10 lakh devotees visited the temple daily during the over a two-month period and donation boxes were reportedly filled with currency notes within hours, making monitoring and accounting of donations a major focus of the SIT’s investigation.

Daily reports to CMO

According to the temple sources, the daily investigation reports, including those related to the questioning of trust officials and other persons connected with the investigation, have been saved in digital form and the report will be given final shape before being presented to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

At the same time, the SIT was sending reports of its findings to the Chief Minister’s Office on a daily basis, they said.

Limited footage

Limited-period footage from CCTV cameras installed at the temple have reportedly posed a hurdle to the SIT investigation. Footage from these cameras is available for only 45 days, after which it gets automatically deleted.

Also read: How Ayodhya Ram temple donation row put faith and transparency to test

Sources told PTI that the investigators have also found indications of possible tampering with footage and are trying to recover deleted or altered data. “The SIT will attempt to retrieve as much old footage as possible through forensic analysis,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

Officials said any manipulation carried out in the past 45 days may still leave technical traces and can be detected through forensic scrutiny.

Land purchases under lens

The sources told PTI that the SIT’s probe did not remain limited to investigating the alleged embezzlement of funds, but has also covered the purchases of land in different phases by the temple trust and also the procurement of building materials for the temple.

The temple trust had allegedly purchased land several times more than the market rates. The issue had been vocally raised by different political parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party.

The SIT

The three-member SIT, constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has been investigating allegations of theft of temple donations.

The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.

(With agency inputs)