UP govt reconstitutes SIT in Ram temple donation ‘theft’ case after Supreme Court order
People familiar with the matter said the newly constituted SIT is expected to submit its first progress report before the apex court on July 27.

National · 48 updates
People familiar with the matter said the newly constituted SIT is expected to submit its first progress report before the apex court on July 27.
The UP administration has inducted three IPS officers into the probe team.
The Supreme Court asked the State government to include a forensic auditor as the fifth member of the SIT, which will submit its first status report within two weeks
The development comes a week after the top court cautioned all parties against politicising the controversy.
Opposition MPs staged a symbolic protest in Parliament over alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement. They also demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation regarding NEET-UG student protests. Independent MP Pappu Yadav enacted a priest pocketing donations in a street play performance. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders participated in the demonstration.
Dressed in saffron robes and carrying a photograph of Lord Ram, Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, played the role of a temple priest.
Pappu Yadav at the Parliament gate
Opposition brings street theatre to Parliament to target BJP over Ram Mandir row
Ram Mandir trust tightens donation surveillance amid theft probe
Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan declines the Congress’s demand to allow Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak immediately, saying the party was still in “Emergency mode”
The INDIA bloc MPs demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation and questioned his absence from House proceedings
He claimed the parties involved had "faith only in vote-bank politics" and not in Lord Ram.
Every stage of donation, from collection boxes inside the temple to the counting room, will be videographed, according to a senior Ram Temple trust official.
Seers and lawyers filed police complaints in Varanasi against Pappu Yadav and opposition leaders. They alleged their religious sentiments were hurt by a protest enacted in Parliament. The opposition leaders staged a symbolic protest over alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement. This protest occurred after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced regarding temple donations. Legal action has been sought against the opposition leaders involved in the demonstration.
Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari alleges that the Ram Temple Donation scam, currently being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Police, is not the first instance of embezzlement here, claiming the BJP has been pilfering devotees’ donations for years
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Addressing reporters, CM Yogi said said the initial SIT report had not found any involvement of religious figures in the alleged theft of offerings made at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. "No involvement of any sadhu-saint was found in the SIT's initial report in the case related to the alleged embezzlement of offerings (chadhava) at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple," he said.
Yogi's remarks came amid a political row over the alleged donation theft, which has triggered protests inside the Parliament.
Since the controversy erupted, Rai remained largely confined to Teerth Kshetra Bhawan, a three-storey building located 200 metres from the temple complex.
Mallikarjun Kharge says the government “seems panicked” and the “truth will come out” if there is a debate on the Ram Mandir issue and police brutality against students
The FIR alleges a coordinated theft operation involving these temple personnel and cash-counting staff systematically pilfered cash from donation boxes and hid temple valuables during the counting and sorting phases
Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of shielding the "real culprits" in the alleged theft of temple offerings while sending lower-level employees to jail
Kiren Rijiju alleged that the Opposition had earlier protested against the construction of the Ram Temple and was now repeating the same stand.
Ayodhya: The investigation team in charge of the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has completed probing various aspects of the case, Senior Superintendent of Police of Ayodhya Gaurav Grover said.The probe has to be completed in 90 days and the chargesheet has to be filed in court by the end of next month, the SSP said.Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Grover said the SIT is not conducting any separate investigation and is coordinating in the police investigation in the role of a high-level probe adviser. The chairman of the SIT is Lucknow IGP Kiran S who has five
By removing the flex boards, the police under the United Democratic Front government had shown its subservience to the Sangh Parivar, says CPI(M) Feroke area committee secretary
A Prayagraj court’s summons to Independent MP Pappu Yadav for his skit at Parliament complex over the alleged theft of donations at Ram Temple raises the question of territorial jurisdiction
Ram temple donation row: SC urged to adjourn hearing on pleas due to unavailability of SG
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that people close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi have stolen money from the Ram Temple. Gandhi made the remarks while addressing allegations of financial irregularities linked to the construction of the Ram Temple.
Ram Temple donations row: SC asks SIT to conclude probe expeditiously, file status report
The Supreme Court said the SIT was answerable and accountable to it and would submit its status report directly to the Supreme Court
The conduct of the respondents-Authorities cannot be termed to be fair, proper or reasonable because of the simple reason that apparently the authorities have fooled the petitioner, said the Allahabad High Court
Another accused, a former member of the trust, Anil Mishra was also found not guilty in the matter.
The UP SIT report criticised Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and its lack of professional financial management, and questioned the role of the SBI.
Now Hanuman Ji should raise his 'gada' and decide the fate of the 'chanda chor' [donation thieves], said Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai
Jairam Ramesh asks why key trust functionaries, including Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, have been made witnesses; Congress seeks Supreme Court-supervised inquiry
Champat Rai being shielded in Ram Mandir donation theft case, claims Congress
Congress seeks Supreme Court-monitored probe into alleged Ayodhya temple theft