The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of donation funds at the Ram temple in Ayodhya is likely to submit its preliminary report to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
The SIT returned to Lucknow on Saturday. “Those who were questioned by the special investigation team have already been told not to leave the city till further orders,” an official of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said.
investigation so far
The SIT’s investigation also extended to examining interim purchases made by the trust at various stages and procurement of construction materials for the temple, officials said. The fund purchased approximately 71 acres of land at inflated prices of 500% to 800% above market value.
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People familiar with the matter said that the names of 150 suspects emerged during the six-day investigation, and action is likely to be taken against 25 of them. The team examined many important aspects, including CCTV footage, detailed information regarding the offers, the method of calculating donations, and the process of transferring funds to the bank. On Saturday, the Special Investigation Team obtained the bank account details of all the suspects. After the investigation, the team took all the evidence with it. The major embezzlement occurred during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh Mela in early 2025, people familiar with the matter said.
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The special investigation team also investigated the use of funds from the temple’s donation funds, unnecessary expenses, and issues related to land acquisition. Old records up to 2021 were examined. Based on the disclosures of five people associated with the duty of calculating donation amounts in the temple. — Lavkush, Avnish, Anukalp, Karuni and Ramshankar alias Tinu — Refunds amount $Officials said that Rs 2 crore has been generated so far.
