Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of financial irregularities involving offerings made at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Addressing the issue, Adityanath urged Ram devotees and political parties to refrain from making “baseless comments” until the investigation is completed. He said the state government ordered the probe following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and assured that the truth would emerge through a fair inquiry.
“My appeal to all Ram devotees is this: at the request of the trust, we have ordered an SIT inquiry. I can assure you that the investigation will separate truth from falsehood,” Yogi said.
He also appealed to all concerned not to make statements that could hurt the sentiments of devotees and asked anyone possessing documentary evidence to submit it to the SIT.
The three-member SIT was constituted on June 14. It comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IG Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. The committee has been directed to submit its preliminary and final reports at the earliest.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made it clear that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty.
“If anyone is guilty, whoever they may be, they will not be spared. This is certain,” he said.
Appealing for patience, the chief minister said devotees had waited centuries for the construction of the Ram temple and could wait a few more days for the facts to be established.
“We waited for 500 years; now wait another 15 days. Lord Ram taught us the value of dignity and righteous conduct, and we should uphold that dignity,” he said.
Adityanath accused those making allegations without evidence of attempting to malign Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
“Do not be misled by those who seek to defame Ayodhya and insult the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Through misinformation campaigns, they are trying to tarnish the image of Ayodhya Dham, the foremost among our sacred pilgrimage cities,” he said.
The controversy erupted after Samajwadi Party leader and former Ayodhya MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that donations worth between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore had been misappropriated.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded an impartial inquiry and questioned the state government’s silence, calling for the release of CCTV footage related to the matter. In a post on X, he also took a swipe at Yogi Adityanath, saying, “An SIT should also be formed to investigate someone’s record-breaking ‘Ayodhya’ visits.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh were responsible for the alleged irregularities.
However, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust rejected the allegations. Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj said all donations and transactions were being recorded and handled transparently.
Adityanath said all sides would have an opportunity to present their views once the SIT completed its work.
“Let the investigation proceed. After the report is submitted, there will be an appropriate basis for any further comments. But do not indulge in unnecessary character assassination or attempt to defame Ayodhya Dham without cause,” he said.