SIT Questions Ram Temple Trust Member on Donation Counting Procedures

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of misappropriation of donation funds at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Thursday questioned Dr Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Sources said the SIT focused on the procedures followed for counting offerings and the appointment of personnel involved in handling the funds.

The three-member SIT arrived at the Ram Temple complex around 8:30 am, continuing its inquiry for the fourth consecutive day. Mishra was asked about the protocols for counting donations and the recruitment of staff tasked with managing the offerings.

The questioning comes a day ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's scheduled visit to the Ram Temple on Friday. According to the itinerary issued by Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, temple trust general secretary Champat Rai has been directed to nominate an individual to oversee arrangements for the chief minister's darshan and pujan.

This development follows Rai's appearance before the SIT on Wednesday as part of the investigation. Rai has traditionally accompanied prominent visitors during major temple visits but has largely refrained from public comments since the allegations emerged. Apart from an initial statement saying internal audits were being conducted and no evidence of wrongdoing had been found, Rai has maintained silence on the issue.

The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on June 13 after the temple trust itself sought an investigation into allegations that donation funds had been misappropriated. The panel comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.

The controversy stems from allegations raised by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on June 7. Referring to media reports that crores of rupees from temple donations were unaccounted for, Yadav urged courts to take cognisance of the matter. On Thursday, Yadav posted on X that Ayodhya would become a "Kurukshetra" for those allegedly involved in wrongdoing. He also claimed the controversy had adversely affected local businesses and livelihoods dependent on temple tourism, while accusing the BJP government of lacking transparency over the probe. He demanded daily updates on the investigation, alleging that public confidence in the SIT had weakened due to what he described as widespread corruption under the BJP government.

The alleged donation fund embezzlement has intensified political confrontation between the ruling BJP and opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh. The temple trust has maintained that it follows robust accounting practices, and the SIT investigation is expected to shed light on the veracity of the claims.