Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to examine issues raised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust regarding purported missing donations. This announcement was made on June 19, during a press conference in Ayodhya, where he urged political parties and devotees to refrain from making unsubstantiated comments until the investigation is finalised.

Adityanath highlighted the government’s decision to act in response to the trust’s concerns, assuring that the SIT would objectively differentiate between truth and falsehood. He requested that anyone with relevant documentary evidence come forward and submit it to the investigation team.

Calling upon the public and political figures to maintain decorum, he emphasised that commenting prematurely could undermine the investigation’s integrity. Adityanath noted that the wait for the truth would not be long, proposing a timeline of 15 days for the inquiry’s findings to emerge.

Composition and Mandate of the Special Investigation Team

The SIT, constituted on June 14, consists of three members: Vijay Vishwas Pant, an IAS officer and Divisional Commissioner of Lucknow, Kiran S, an IPS officer serving as Inspector General for the region, and Neel Ratan, who is the Special Secretary of Finance. The team has been directed to prepare and submit both preliminary and final reports at the earliest.

Adityanath stressed that this investigative body will have the authority to explore all facets of the allegations involving donations potentially misappropriated from the Ram Mandir offerings. He reassured devotees that a fair assessment would be made, and all individuals found culpable would face appropriate consequences.

During his address, he also underscored the importance of restraint among the public, particularly among Ram devotees, stating that their sentiments should not be hurt by arbitrary comments before the SIT’s conclusions are publicised.

Political Reactions and Previous Allegations

The Chief Minister’s remarks come amidst rising tensions and criticisms from opposition leaders regarding the allegations of missing funds from temple donations, estimated to be between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore. Prominent figures like Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut have pointed fingers at the BJP governments both at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh concerning these allegations.

Yadav has called for a thorough investigation into the matter, demanding transparency from the temple administration and suggesting that any relevant CCTV footage be made public. He has also insinuated that the silence of the state government raises questions regarding its accountability.

Defending the integrity of the temple’s financial transactions, Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has dismissed the allegations put forth by Yadav and others, asserting that all financial activities are well-documented and executed with full transparency.

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