Here's what the SIT’s preliminary report says about the Ayodhya Ram mandir donation probe, details
The government confirmed that SIT members will continue their investigation and are expected to present a comprehensive report
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On Tuesday, June 23, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted the preliminary report on the alleged misappropriation of donation funds and valuables received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. According to the preliminary information available, the SIT report does not identify any Trustees as having been involved in the alleged misappropriation of funds. Instead, it primarily presents a summary of the findings and recommendations from the SIT members regarding CCTV surveillance, staff appointments, and counting procedures.
The recommendations further put forward include filing an FIR regarding the alleged embezzlement to legally investigate the role of suspects, gathering evidence related to the theft and disproportionate assets, and mapping out the connections and network behind the misconduct. It is also revealed that the SIT has already directed and ensured the replacement of all personnel who were previously associated with donation counting and banking procedures.
The issue of alleged misappropriation of donations linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya recently became a major political and administrative controversy in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The temple, managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, received massive public contributions since its construction began, reportedly running into thousands of crores of rupees over the years. Amid this, allegations emerged that some portion of donations and valuables may have been mishandled or gone missing, allegedly by the staff handling the donations.
The latest controversy began when opposition leaders, especially from the Samajwadi Party (SP), alleged that large sums of donation money, claimed to be in the range of several crores, had not been properly accounted for. SP President Akhilesh Yadav publicly questioned the transparency of the trust’s financial handling and demanded a judicial or independent investigation into the matter. He argued that if public money and religious donations were involved, then complete transparency and accountability were necessary, and that courts should take cognisance of the issue. An earlier detailed report by Newsbharati regarding the same can be read here.
According to the reports, the findings highlight alleged lapses, inadequate supervision, and negligence in the maintenance, handling, and counting of donated money and valuables. It mentions names of those involved in the process of looking after the donation fund and valuables, those engaged in the counting process and taking it to the bank, and those in charge of upkeep of CCTV footage.
Three-member panel meets Additional Chief Secretary
The recommendations further put forward include filing an FIR regarding the alleged embezzlement to legally investigate the role of suspects, gathering evidence related to the theft and disproportionate assets, and mapping out the connections and network behind the misconduct. It is also revealed that the SIT has already directed and ensured the replacement of all personnel who were previously associated with donation counting and banking procedures.
The preliminary report was reportedly commissioned by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to determine accountability for the alleged embezzlement and to enable the government to publicly disclose the action taken against those responsible.
The SIT was formed by the government on June 13, consisting of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IG Lucknow Range Kiran S, and Special Secretary of Finance Neel Ratan. Pant and Kiran arrived at the CM Secretariat (Lok Bhawan) and delivered the envelope containing the preliminary report to Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) to the Chief Minister, Sanjay Prasad, at approximately 11:30 am.
VIDEO | Ayodhya Ram Temple donation probe: SIT set to submit report to UP Government. Three-member panel meets Additional Chief Secretary.#RamTemple #AyodhyRamMandir
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/d3fcnp66ZD
The government confirmed that SIT members will continue their investigation and are expected to present a comprehensive report with detailed findings and recommendations within the next 15 days.
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The issue of alleged misappropriation of donations linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya recently became a major political and administrative controversy in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The temple, managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, received massive public contributions since its construction began, reportedly running into thousands of crores of rupees over the years. Amid this, allegations emerged that some portion of donations and valuables may have been mishandled or gone missing, allegedly by the staff handling the donations.
The latest controversy began when opposition leaders, especially from the Samajwadi Party (SP), alleged that large sums of donation money, claimed to be in the range of several crores, had not been properly accounted for. SP President Akhilesh Yadav publicly questioned the transparency of the trust’s financial handling and demanded a judicial or independent investigation into the matter. He argued that if public money and religious donations were involved, then complete transparency and accountability were necessary, and that courts should take cognisance of the issue. An earlier detailed report by Newsbharati regarding the same can be read here.