Ram Temple Donation Theft: UP Govt Reconstitutes SIT with Senior IPS Officers Following Supreme Court Directive

In compliance with strict directions from the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the high-profile embezzlement of cash offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

The newly established three-member panel will be led exclusively by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to ensure a dedicated criminal investigation into the siphoning of temple funds. Inspector General (Lucknow range) Kiran S. has been appointed as chairperson of the fresh team, which also features Ayodhya Deputy Inspector General Somen Barma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Gaurav Grover as members.

The fresh panel replaces the earlier SIT, which was headed by IAS officer and Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant alongside Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar.

Supreme Court Orders IPS-Led Probe

The restructuring follows directions issued by a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohan. During proceedings, the apex court observed that the pilferage of donations is fundamentally a criminal offense that requires specialized technical examination and hands-on policing.

Emphasising that the probe must be taken to its logical conclusion in a fair, impartial, and dispassionate manner, the top court instructed the state government to place senior IPS officers at the helm. The court has mandated that a comprehensive status report on the probe's progress be submitted directly to it.

Also read: 23 Resignations After Security Crackdown at Ayodhya Ram Temple: Coincidence Or Consequence?

CCTV Caught Repeated Cash Siphoning

The controversy came to light after internal surveillance footage from the temple's cash-counting room purportedly showed repeated instances of cash being siphoned off during the processing of devotees' offerings.

Preliminary findings by the initial SIT—which reviewed footage recorded between late April and early June—uncovered approximately 70 instances of cash pilferage. The investigation revealed widespread supervisory lapses and non-compliance with standard operating procedures established between the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the State Bank of India. Security measures, including mandatory frisking, biometric logging, and strict CCTV oversight, were found to have been severely compromised or ignored altogether.

Recoveries Made as New Team Takes Over

Eight individuals, including outsourced cash-counting personnel, have been arrested in connection with the theft. Police have seized cash, gold, vehicles, and real estate documents allegedly purchased using the stolen funds, while freezing several linked bank accounts.

The reconstituted IPS-led SIT has taken over all existing records, evidence, and financial trails. The new panel will focus on unravelling the full extent of the conspiracy, tracing the siphoned money, and fixing supervisory accountability as it prepares to report back to the top court.