The Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing theft and embezzlement of offerings at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. Three senior IPS officers have been included in the new SIT. The new SIT will be headed by IG Kiran S. Will do. Along with him, Ayodhya DIG Somen Verma and SSP Dr. Gaurav Grover have been made members.
Earlier, the SIT formed included Lucknow Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar and other officials.
SIT has been reconstituted after the Supreme Court's order on July 13. The court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a new SIT under the leadership of a senior IPS officer. This order was given by the bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan were also included in the bench.
The Supreme Court has also directed the state government to present the status report related to the investigation of the case on July 27. After the court order, the state government reorganized the SIT. According to sources, the new team has started its investigation.
This case pertains to alleged embezzlement of offerings at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The previous SIT investigating this case thoroughly examined the CCTV footage, donation register, cash handling procedures and financial records. During this time, the SIT interrogated several temple employees and submitted a preliminary report in which irregularities were pointed out in the counting and deposit of temple offerings.
Based on the investigation, the police arrested the main accused and recovered cash, vehicles, investment documents and other properties allegedly purchased with the embezzled funds. Search operations were conducted at several locations, and digital evidence and financial transactions were also thoroughly examined.
The Supreme Court observed that criminal investigation and technical investigation of theft-related cases are better conducted by experienced police officers, following which the SIT was reconstituted under senior IPS leadership. Now the new SIT team will investigate the case and present its status report before the Supreme Court on July 27.
