The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of irregularities involving donations made to the Ayodhya Ram temple.
The grand temple, built under the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has been drawing large numbers of devotees since the consecration ceremony held in 2024. The trust also receives donations from across India and from abroad.
Mahipal Singh, who served as an accounts officer at the temple, recently alleged that malpractice in donation-related matters had been occurring for a long period. Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also raised the issue, accusing the state government of remaining silent and urging the court to take suo motu cognisance.
Responding to the allegations, trust general secretary Champat Rai said internal audit work was underway and that no evidence had been found to substantiate the claims. Amid calls from various quarters for a state-level probe, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the formation of the SIT.
The SIT includes Lucknow divisional commissioner and IAS officer Vijay Vishwas Pant, Police IG Kiran, and Finance Department special secretary Neel Ratan.
