Lucknow | The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of offerings from the Ram Mandir has been granted an additional 15 days by the state government to complete its investigation. The team will now submit its final report by July 15, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
An initial report in the case has already been submitted, while eight accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Interrogation of the accused is continuing as investigators attempt to uncover the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities linked to temple donations.
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According to officials, the SIT is examining multiple layers of the alleged scam, including repeated instances of misappropriation of donation funds and subsequent diversion of money into different channels. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused systematically siphoned off offerings collected at the temple over a period of time.
Recent interrogation sessions conducted inside jail with court approval have reportedly yielded significant disclosures. The longest questioning was conducted with accused Avinash Mishra, who is said to have admitted to involvement in the irregularities. During questioning, references to the role of trustee Anil Mishra have also surfaced, particularly regarding the donation counting and handling process.
Investigators have alleged that the operation involved coordination between multiple individuals, including counting staff and others responsible for handling cash collections. Some accused have reportedly claimed that they were aware of the diversion of funds and that the proceeds were distributed among members of the network.
Police sources indicate that access to cash-counting rooms and coordination with banking personnel played a crucial role in the alleged diversion of funds. Authorities are also examining whether banking records and account-level transactions were manipulated to conceal the movement of money.
With the investigation now extended, the SIT is expected to intensify its financial scrutiny, including bank trails and digital records, before submitting its comprehensive findings to the state government by mid-July.
