Ram Mandir donation probe: UP govt forms SIT after missing crores row
Synopsis
Crores allegedly missing from Ram Mandir donation boxes — and now the UP government, the temple trust, and the opposition are all demanding answers. With a three-member SIT given just 15 days, the probe into one of India's most prominent religious sites is set to become as much a political flashpoint as an accountability exercise.
Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member SIT to probe alleged donation irregularities at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya , on directions from CM Yogi Adityanath .
The SIT includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant , IG Kiran S , and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan .
A preliminary report is due in 7 days ; a final report within 15 days .
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged on X that crores of rupees in offerings had gone missing, calling it 'utterly shameful' and seeking judicial intervention.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself had requested the SIT probe, citing rumours and misinformation among devotees.
Temple camp office in-charge Prakash Gupta said the alleged discrepancy may have occurred during counting of donation box money, with bank employees involved in the process.
The Uttar Pradesh government, acting on directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in monetary offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The development follows a political firestorm triggered by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's claim that crores of rupees from temple donations had gone missing.
How the SIT is structured
According to reports, the three-member SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police (IG) Kiran S of the Lucknow Range, and UP Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team has reportedly been directed to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.
What sparked the controversy
The row erupted after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on social media platform X alleging that crores of rupees in offerings to the Ram Mandir had been found missing. In his post, Yadav wrote: 'This is an extremely sensitive piece of news for devotees of Lord Ram across the entire world: crores of rupees in offerings to the Ram Mandir have been found missing.' He called the incident 'utterly shameful' for the temple trust and sought judicial intervention in the matter.
What the Ram Mandir trust said
Notably, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself had appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for an SIT probe. A trust spokesperson said misleading information and rumours were being spread, creating confusion among devotees, and that an impartial investigation was necessary to place the facts before the public and put speculation to rest.
Temple official flags counting process
Prakash Gupta, in-charge of the temple trust's camp office, did not rule out a 'miscalculation' of donations. He said that no money was accepted at donation counters without issuing a receipt, and that offerings placed in donation boxes inside the temple were counted on the premises itself, with bank employees present alongside a trust representative for supervision.
'Since the bank employees were involved, the irregularities could not be caught, and they kept on doing this. The supervisors were not aware that irregularities of this scale could be carried out,' Gupta said. He added that the alleged discrepancy likely occurred during the counting of money from the temple's donation boxes, not at the receipt-based donation counters.
What happens next
With both the ruling establishment and the temple trust backing an SIT inquiry, the probe is expected to proceed without immediate legal hurdles. The preliminary report, due within a week, will be closely watched — both for what it reveals about the donation accounting process and for the political fallout it may trigger ahead of state elections. Opposition pressure for judicial oversight has not abated, and the outcome of the SIT's findings is likely to set the tone for the next phase of this dispute.
Point of View
But of an institution seeking to clear its own name. That the alleged irregularity reportedly occurred during bank-supervised counting, not at receipt-based counters, raises uncomfortable questions about oversight design at one of India's most high-profile religious sites. Akhilesh Yadav's intervention is politically calculated, but the underlying accountability gap is real: a temple receiving donations from millions of devotees worldwide cannot afford opacity in its financial processes. The 15-day deadline for a final report is tight; a credible, publicly disclosed finding — rather than a buried summary — will determine whether this inquiry restores or further erodes trust.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the UP government formed an SIT for the Ram Mandir donation case?
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following allegations by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav that crores of rupees from Ram Mandir offerings had gone missing. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had also independently appealed for an SIT probe to counter misinformation and restore devotee confidence.
Who are the members of the Ram Mandir donation SIT?
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S of the Lucknow Range, and UP Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. They are required to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.
What exactly did Akhilesh Yadav allege about the Ram Mandir donations?
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X that crores of rupees in offerings to the Ram Mandir had been found missing, calling it 'utterly shameful' for the temple trust. He sought judicial intervention, arguing the matter was too sensitive to be left to a government-appointed body alone.
How were donations collected and counted at the Ram Mandir?
According to temple camp office in-charge Prakash Gupta, donations at counters were accepted only against receipts. Offerings placed in donation boxes inside the temple were counted on the premises, with bank employees and a trust representative present. Gupta suggested any miscalculation likely occurred during the counting of donation box money, where bank employees were involved.
What happens if the SIT finds irregularities at the Ram Mandir?
The SIT's findings, due within 15 days, will determine the next course of action. If irregularities are confirmed, the matter could escalate to judicial proceedings, as Akhilesh Yadav has already sought court intervention. The outcome will also have significant political implications given the Ram Mandir's national prominence.
