The investigation into the Ram Temple donation controversy in Ayodhya has become bigger as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now questioning priests and temple management members. The probe, which has entered its sixth day, is looking into claims of missing donation money and possible mistakes in how temple funds were handled.
The issue started after allegations were made that crores of rupees donated by devotees at the Ram Temple had gone missing. Since then, the matter has become a major political issue, with opposition parties demanding answers and the government saying the truth will soon come out.
The SIT is now checking not only how donations were counted but also how the temple administration was being run. According to sources, investigators have found that many important decisions inside the temple were being made only through verbal orders, without any written records. This has raised serious questions about responsibility and transparency.
Officials say this lack of written instructions has made it difficult to know who was responsible for key tasks. In any large institution, especially one handling huge amounts of public donations, clear records and proper procedures are considered very important.
The SIT believes that such gaps in management may have allowed irregularities to happen.
As part of the probe, the SIT questioned temple trust member Anil Mishra for almost three hours. Sources said the questioning focused on temple operations, donation handling, and how responsibilities were divided among staff members.
Investigators are also looking into whether standard operating procedures, also called SOPs, were properly followed. SOPs are official rules that explain how work should be done. These rules are meant to avoid confusion and reduce mistakes.
According to the SIT, there were several cases where temple workers did not have fixed duties. Instead of written instructions, many workers were reportedly told what to do verbally. This system has now come under serious doubt.
The role of KD Tiwari, who looks after the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, is also being examined. Investigators are trying to understand whether there were any mistakes or irregularities linked to the management of donation funds.
The sanctum sanctorum is the most important and sacred area of the temple, where devotees offer prayers and donations. Because of this, the handling of money in this area is under close watch.
Sources say the SIT wants to know how donations moved from collection points to counting rooms and finally into official accounts. They are also checking whether all cash records match.
The probe has become very important because the Ram Temple is one of the most visited religious places in India. Every day, thousands of people visit the temple and donate money.
This makes proper management of funds extremely important.
The controversy began on June 7 when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue. He referred to media reports and claimed that crores of rupees from temple donations had gone missing.
Akhilesh demanded a full investigation and said the judiciary should also take notice of the matter. His statement quickly turned the issue into a political battle between the ruling BJP and opposition parties.
Akhilesh has also claimed that the controversy is hurting local businesses in Ayodhya. Many shopkeepers, hotels, and small businesses depend on religious tourism, and he says such allegations can affect the city’s image.
He has asked for daily updates on the SIT investigation so that the public can know what is happening.
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly defended the Ram Temple Trust. Speaking in Ayodhya, he accused opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress of trying to damage the temple’s reputation.
Yogi said there was a planned attempt to defame Ayodhya, the Ram Temple, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He asked people not to believe what he called political conspiracies.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the SIT probe was ordered after the temple trust itself asked for it. He said this showed that the trust wanted full transparency and had nothing to hide.
Yogi assured the public that the truth would come out soon.
He said the investigation would reveal all facts clearly and remove any doubts.
For now, the SIT continues its work by questioning more people and checking records. The case has attracted national attention because of the religious and political importance of the Ram Temple.
Many devotees are waiting for the results of the investigation, hoping the matter will be resolved quickly.
The coming days are likely to be important as more details may come out. If irregularities are found, action could be taken against those responsible. If not, the probe may help clear the trust’s name.
Until then, the Ram Temple donation row remains one of the most talked-about issues in Uttar Pradesh.
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