A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Uttar Pradesh received a 15-day extension on June 15, 2026, to file its closure report [1].
The extension allows investigators to broaden their inquiry into the alleged misappropriation and theft of funds collected for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Because the temple is a site of immense religious and political significance, any confirmed irregularities in donation handling could spark wider public outcry.
The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to determine how funds were handled and whether theft occurred [1]. The team traveled to Ayodhya to begin the probe and widen the scope of the investigation to ensure all leads were exhausted [1], [2].
Reports indicate that the investigation centers on the alleged theft of cash from the 'daan peti,' or donation boxes [3]. According to some sources, five or six employees are alleged to have stolen large sums of cash from these boxes [3].
As the probe continues, the legal process for those accused has also progressed. Certain accused individuals were placed in judicial custody for 14 days [4]. The SIT is now working toward a final report to determine if the case should be closed or if further charges are warranted [1], [4].
The investigation remains under heavy scrutiny as the team seeks to verify the exact amount of missing funds and identify all parties involved in the alleged scheme [2].
“The SIT was granted a further 15 days to file its closure report on the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft.”
The extension of the SIT deadline suggests that the investigation into the Ram Mandir donations is more complex than initially anticipated. By widening the probe and securing judicial custody for suspects, the Uttar Pradesh government is attempting to provide a transparent accounting of the funds to maintain public trust in the temple's administration.
