Ram Temple donation theft SIT clean chit

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, faced allegations of large-scale theft of devotees' donations. The India — Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13, 2026, at the Trust's request. The SIT's preliminary report, submitted on June 23, found prima facie evidence of around 70 suspicious incidents captured on CCTV between April 27 and June 5, 2026, showing counting staff concealing cash. An FIR was registered on June 25, and eight accused were arrested. The SIT recovered approximately Rs 80 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and jewellery. Former Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned on June 27. The Supreme Court intervened, directing the SIT to expedite the probe and later reconstituting it with senior IPS officers and a forensic auditor. On August 18, the SIT's final report gave clean chits to Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, naming only the eight arrested individuals. The report also highlighted lapses in the Trust and bank monitoring systems. The Trust implemented new cash-counting procedures under State Bank of India supervision and began recruiting a CEO. The controversy sparked political protests by the Opposition, with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an independent probe. Raj Thackeray of the India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also alleged similar donation theft at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak temple.