On Sunday (19th July), the Uttar Pradesh government-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its status report in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case in a sealed cover.
On 20th July, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymala Baghchi and V. Mohana heard a batch of petitions demanding a court-monitored probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations made by devotees to the Ram Mandir.
Supreme Court orders re-constitution of SIT for Ram Mandir donation theft probe
During the hearing, the court ordered the re-formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). CJI Surya Kant said that the new SIT should be led by an IPS officer and that the Ram Mandir donation theft probe can reach a decisive stage.
The court directed Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to seek names from the Uttar Pradesh government for the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The court direction to form a new SIT came even as the existing SIT has filed its status report and arrested eight accused persons so far.
The Supreme Court bench, however, instructed the petitioners to refrain from politicising the issue. “Just a word of caution. Please don’t politicise the issue. The courts are not a place for politics. It is a simple case of commission of crime. We are (here) just to ensure a proper investigation,” CJI Surya Kant said.
In June this year, allegations of embezzlement of cash donations surfaced at the Ram Mandir. An audit revealed irregularities, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The probe led to the registration of an FIR and the arrest of eight individuals, including some linked to Trust employees. Cash amounting to around ₹79.85 lakh was recovered from the arrested accused.
Trust General Secretary Champat Rai’s driver, Tinnu Yadav, was among those implicated. Champat Rai and another trustee, Anil Mishra, submitted resignations, while invited member Gopal Rao was asked to step away from Trust meetings, though he clarified he was not formally removed and denied involvement in the theft.
SIT report revealed major security failures that enabled donation theft in Ram Mandir
Earlier this month, the SIT released its nine-page preliminary report revealing that the donation theft was not limited to a few incidents but became possible because of serious gaps in security, supervision and cash-handling procedures. The report mentioned at least 70 incidents captured on CCTV between 27th April and 6th June. The SIT found several lapses in the way donations were handled. Staff members were not properly frisked before entering or leaving the counting room, dress code rules were ignored, and personal belongings were allowed inside.
The report also stated that Tinnu Yadav controlled the keys of donation boxes and managed access without any written authorisation, while counting supervisor Subhash Srivastava allowed this arrangement to continue.
It further pointed out that a security rule introduced in September 2024, which required mandatory frisking, was weakened through a Standard Operating Procedure issued on 6th February 2025, allowing only random checks.
