The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a new three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the high-profile alleged donation theft case at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, following directions issued by the Supreme Court. The decision comes after the apex court ordered that the criminal case be investigated by a team headed by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. While the state government has not officially announced the names of the SIT members, government sources said the probe will be led by Inspector General (IG) Kiran S. of Lucknow. According to the sources, Ayodhya Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Somen Verma and Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr. Gaurav Grover have also been included in the team. The government is expected to inform the Supreme Court about the constitution of the new SIT while submitting its status report on July 27.
According to official sources, Kiran S., a 2008-batch IPS officer, was also a member of the earlier three-member SIT constituted by the state government on June 13 under the chairmanship of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant. He has extensive experience in handling complex investigations and has previously served with both Interpol and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The government is believed to have entrusted him with leading the fresh investigation because of his experience in handling sensitive and high-profile cases.
The case took a significant turn during the Supreme Court hearing on July 20, when the court observed that the alleged donation theft was a criminal matter requiring investigation by senior IPS officers. Following the court’s directions, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed the Home Department to study the order carefully, constitute a fresh SIT, and ensure full compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. Acting on those instructions, the Home Department formed the new investigation team, although the official notification and confirmation of its members had not been released until late Saturday.
Before the Supreme Court’s intervention, the Uttar Pradesh government had constituted an SIT on June 13 under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant. The team began its investigation in Ayodhya on June 15 and examined temple administration procedures, donation management systems, official records, and related documents. During the course of the inquiry, investigators concluded that the matter involved multiple aspects requiring detailed examination and therefore sought additional time to complete the probe.
According to sources, the earlier SIT submitted its preliminary investigation report to the Home Department on June 22. The report indicated that the investigation had expanded beyond its initial scope and that several additional aspects required further scrutiny. The state government subsequently extended the deadline for submission of the final report until July 30. The newly constituted SIT will now review the evidence, documents, and findings gathered during the earlier investigation before proceeding with the next phase of the probe.
Government sources said the new SIT will not merely continue the earlier inquiry but will also have the authority to collect fresh evidence, re-examine documents, question concerned officials and employees, and conduct a detailed review of financial and administrative records wherever necessary. If the investigation uncovers evidence indicating the involvement of any individual, appropriate legal action will be initiated in accordance with the law. Investigators will also examine whether there were any irregularities in the collection, counting, documentation, or deposit of temple donations.
During the scheduled Supreme Court hearing on July 27, the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to submit a comprehensive status report outlining the constitution of the new SIT and the progress made in the investigation so far. The apex court may then issue further directions regarding the scope, timeline, and future course of the investigation. The state government has stated that it is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation, and that appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible based on the evidence that emerges during the probe.
