Key facts
- The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member SIT to investigate allegations concerning the Ram temple trust's donations and financial management.
- The SIT was constituted on the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
- The controversy arose after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed that significant amounts from donations were missing.
- The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust stated that internal audits are ongoing and have not yet revealed any missing funds.
- The SIT members include Vijay Vishwas Pant (Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow), Kiran S (Inspector General of Police), and Neel Ratan (Special Secretary, Finance Department).
The Uttar Pradesh government has established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations concerning the financial management and donations received by the Ram temple trust in Ayodhya. The decision was made on the directive of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The controversy gained traction after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed that reports indicated significant amounts of donated money were missing, urging a court-ordered investigation. He described the issue as highly sensitive for devotees and questioned the silence of both the trust and the government.
In response, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai stated that internal audits were in progress and had not yet uncovered any evidence of missing funds. He assured that periodic audits involving the trust and the State Bank of India were conducted, and nothing significant had been found so far. Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das also expressed confidence in the trust's operations.
Further adding to the discourse, former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh indicated knowledge of alleged donation misuse, while senior BJP leader Rajneesh Singh formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly disclose the trust's financial details, assets, donations, expenditures, bank accounts, and land transactions, asserting devotees' right to know.
Uttar Pradesh minister Surya Pratap Shahi commented that the trust had already commenced an inquiry and would act according to its regulations, emphasizing that the matter was primarily within the trust's purview. The Congress party, through Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai, called for an independent probe led by a sitting high court judge.
Meanwhile, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra clarified that his role was confined to overseeing construction activities and he would not comment on the financial controversy.