Ram Temple Trust Seeks Inquiry, UP Government Constitutes Three-Member SIT

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations related to donations and financial management of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust , amid a growing political controversy over the handling of funds received for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya .

The SIT was formed on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following a request from the trust, which sought an impartial inquiry to counter what it described as misinformation and rumours circulating on social media. The panel comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.

The controversy erupted after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that reports suggested crores of rupees from temple donations were missing . Calling the issue “extremely sensitive” for devotees, he urged courts to take suo motu cognisance and later remarked that the “root of this conspiracy is not far away,” suggesting action would be easy if authorities genuinely sought the truth.

The temple trust has strongly denied any irregularities. Trust general secretary Champat Rai said periodic audits involving trust representatives and the State Bank of India (SBI) were underway and had found no evidence supporting the allegations. Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das also expressed confidence in the organisation’s functioning.

The issue gained further attention after former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed he was aware of alleged misuse of donations but declined to provide details. BJP leader Rajneesh Singh separately urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the trust’s finances, donations, expenditures and land transactions public.

The SIT is expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit its findings to the state government, with the trust maintaining that the inquiry will help establish facts and dispel rumours surrounding the donation funds.