New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has completed its probe into the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Its report records 105 instances of suspected unauthorised removal or concealment of cash from the counting room.
The findings were submitted in a status report dated September 16 and examined by the Supreme Court. CCTV footage from the counting room at the Pilgrim Facility Centre and other digital evidence showed 105 such instances, according to the report.
The SIT said the incidents involved assistance from other people taking part in the counting process.
The investigation has identified eight accused. The SIT claims to have examined their bank accounts, movable and immovable assets, mobile phone data, call records, CCTV footage, financial documents and other material collected during the probe. The witnesses included temple trust functionaries, accounting staff, bank officials, security personnel and chartered accountants. The Supreme Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include a forensic auditor in the investigation. The SIT was constituted following allegations of irregularities in the handling of temple donations, with the court seeking an independent investigation into the matter. The chargesheet will bring together the evidence gathered during the investigation, including the CCTV footage, financial records, witness statements, digital evidence and verification of valuable donations.
It als claimed that it has recorded statements from 173 witnesses by September 14. The latest count of 105 CCTV-recorded incidents is higher than the 70 suspected thefts reported in the preliminary investigation in July. Investigators had then found that the alleged cash pilferage took place during the evening counting shift over about 40 days. The investigation identified 86 valuable articles for which receipts had not been issued. The SIT’s September 16 status report has given the court details of the material examined during the probe.
These articles were identified and physically verified, according to the status report placed before the top court.
