Overview
- The Uttar Pradesh government set up a three‑member Special Investigation Team on June 13 and the SIT finished a preliminary on‑site inquiry in Ayodhya this weekend, with a report submitted or due to be submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
- Investigators identified gaps in records for cash, gold, silver and precious stones and recovered about ₹2 crore plus some gold during searches and questioning of donation‑counting staff.
- The SIT ordered trust office‑bearers and temple functionaries not to leave Ayodhya and signalled possible removal or legal action against several senior figures linked to donation handling.
- Forensic work faces limits because local CCTV is retained for roughly 45 days and investigators report indications that footage may have been deleted or tampered with, complicating reconstruction of earlier transactions.
- The probe has intensified political pressure with opposition leaders calling for a judicial inquiry and experts urging stronger, statutory audit and asset‑protection measures for large religious trusts to prevent future loss of devotees’ offerings.