Uttar Pradesh SIT files sealed report on Ram Mandir donation theft

The Uttar Pradesh government‑appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted a sealed status report to the Supreme Court ahead of a hearing scheduled for 20 July 2026. The three‑judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, will consider petitions seeking a court‑monitored probe into alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The SIT’s preliminary findings note about 70 suspicious incidents captured on CCTV between 27 April and 5 June 2026, showing counting staff concealing cash and highlighting lapses such as lack of frisking, inadequate control of personal belongings and the practice of counting cash from multiple donation boxes together. Recoveries include roughly Rs 78.94 lakh from employees and an additional Rs 2.25 lakh from a bathroom. Eight persons have been arrested, including primary suspect Ram Shankar Yadav alias Tinnu, and police later recovered a four‑wheeler, a motorcycle, gold jewellery, cash and key financial documents during a raid.

Petitioners—including advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner‑in‑person Ajay Kumar Rai, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and the Hindu Dharma Parishad—have asked the court to ensure transparency and public disclosure. Samajwadi Party MPs have questioned the SIT’s impartiality, citing the faith of crores of devotees tied to the donations. The court previously ordered the SIT to submit the report, rejecting a request for a copy at that stage.