UP government hands over SIT final report on donation ‘theft’ to Ram Temple Trust

On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Home Department transferred the final Special Investigation Team (SIT) report concerning allegations of cash and valuables theft at Ayodhya's Ram Temple to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. This comes after a preliminary report was released on June 23, following the registration of a case with eight accused arrested based on its findings.

The SIT, led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, included IGP Kiran S and Finance Secretary Neel Ratan. The Trust's interim general secretary, Krishna Mohan, is set to receive and review the complete report at an upcoming Trust meeting in the first week of the following month. While the initial report primarily detailed key lapses contributing to the theft, the full report focuses on security enhancements, donation box management, and staff appointments for counting.

It recommends increased police presence at the temple's inner circle. A separate SIT, headed by IGP Kiran S, was also established to oversee the investigation into the FIR filed by a Trust member on June 25, accusing eight individuals and several others. The accused have been interrogated, and Rs 79 lakh in cash, along with vehicles, have been seized. They are currently in custody.