New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of theft and irregularities in the handling of devotees’ donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The new SIT, as reported by The Times of India, is led by Inspector General Kiran S, with Deputy Inspector General Somen Verma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover as members. This decision to reconstitute the SIT follows a Supreme Court hearing on July 13, where a bench expressed that the case involving financial irregularities required investigation by experienced police officers. The court directed the state to form a fresh SIT under a senior IPS officer and submit a status report by July 27. The SIT has been tasked with further steps, including a potential re-audit of the trust’s accounts over the past five years to examine broader financial irregularities, construction expenditures, and handling of valuables like jewellery. The controversy emerged in early June 2026 after allegations, including from opposition figures like former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey, claimed that crores in donations (estimates varied, with some citing Rs 7-7.5 crore or higher figures in public discourse) had been misappropriated. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requested a probe, leading the UP government to constitute an initial three-member SIT on or around June 13-14, 2026. This team included Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant (chairman), IG Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar. The initial SIT’s preliminary report, submitted around June 23, found prima facie evidence of theft and pilferage during the counting of donations. Key findings from CCTV footage (reviewed for periods such as April 27 to June 5, covering about 45 days due to retention policies) included around 70 instances of counting staff concealing cash in clothing, pockets, shoes, and other areas, with some assisting or shielding others. Procedural lapses were noted, such as non-adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) agreed with the State Bank of India for donation handling, counting, and deposit; missing or inadequate CCTV monitoring; hundi (donation box) keys reportedly held by a driver; and weak supervision. No evidence directly implicated top trust office-bearers in the theft itself at that stage, though supervisory and administrative shortcomings were highlighted, particularly regarding former trustee Anil Mishra’s role in oversight and appointments. An FIR was registered on June 25 based on the SIT’s findings and a complaint from a trust member. Eight individuals associated with cash and valuables counting were arrested: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava (a retired bank supervisor), and Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav. Police recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash (plus some foreign currency) from several of the accused. Some accused were reportedly related or had facilitated each other’s appointments in the counting unit. The accused were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for offences including theft, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy. In response, trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned (resignations accepted in early July). The trust appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary, announced organisational changes including a new CEO post, and initiated reviews of processes. The trust has reported substantial overall donations received and spent on construction and operations over the years.