Ram Mandir donation embezzlement

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple is likely to submit an interim report to the Supreme Court on Monday in compliance with the apex court’s directions, sources said on Friday.

Sources further said that the SIT may seek more time from the Uttar Pradesh government to finalize the investigation into alleged financial irregularities related to donations received by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The development comes days after the Supreme Court, hearing petitions seeking an impartial and time-bound investigation into the alleged donation embezzlement, directed the SIT to submit a status report on its investigation.

A three-member SIT was formed by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 on the request of the Trust, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.

Initially it was given 15 days to complete the investigation, but later its tenure was extended by 15 more days.

The initial nine-page report submitted by the SIT to the state government on June 23 triggered a series of actions, including registration of an FIR, arrest of eight accused, recovery of cash allegedly siphoned off from temple donations and the resignation of former trust general secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra.

The final report is expected to recommend reforms in the temple’s administration and donation-calculation system, with the trust meeting in Ayodhya on July 22 to discuss the findings and possible corrective measures.

The Supreme Court is hearing petitions demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation, forensic audit and an audit of the trust’s finances by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

The petitioners have also questioned the manner in which the SIT initiated its investigation before registering the FIR and sought a time-bound investigation into the alleged embezzlement.