Ram Temple donation theft row: UP govt reconstitutes SIT; IG Kiran S to lead probe

NEW DELHI: Acting on the Supreme Court's directions, the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officers to investigate the alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The reconstituted team is headed by Inspector General Kiran S, with Deputy Inspector General Somen Verma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Gaurav Grover as members. It replaces the earlier SIT, which was headed by Lucknow Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and included Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar among its members. The apex court had, during a July 13 hearing, expressed the view that allegations involving theft and financial irregularities required investigation by experienced police officers. CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohan directed the state to form a fresh SIT under a senior IPS officer and submit a status report by July 27. The case centres on allegations that offerings made by devotees at the Ram temple were siphoned off instead of being deposited through the prescribed process. Investigators probing the case earlier examined CCTV footage, donation registers, cash-handling records and financial documents, besides questioning temple staff. Their preliminary findings indicated suspected irregularities in the counting and deposit of donations. The investigation led to the arrest of several accused, while police seized cash, vehicles, investment documents and other assets allegedly acquired using the misappropriated funds. Investigators also analysed bank transactions and other digital evidence to trace the alleged money trail. With the new SIT now taking over the probe, the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to place its findings before the Supreme Court in a status report on July 27.