NEW DELHI: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, calling the development an “insult to the Sanatana Dharma”.Speaking in Agra on Sunday, the Samajwadi Party chief said, “It is very unfortunate that the officials have to now investigate the priests in the Ram Mandir. It is an insult to the Sanatana Dharma that such a prestigious temple has to be probed.”His remarks came a day after the Uttar Pradesh government, acting on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, constituted a three-member SIT to investigate allegations of irregularities in the handling of donations received at the Ram Temple. The move followed a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which sought a government-led inquiry amid growing public scrutiny over the issue.The SIT will be headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant and includes Lucknow Range Inspector General Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neelratan Kumar. The team has been asked to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.The controversy began after former Samajwadi Party MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, alleged that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in temple donations had been misappropriated. Akhilesh Yadav subsequently raised concerns over the management of donations and demanded a probe, while also questioning the state government’s response to the allegations.The Temple Trust has strongly denied any wrongdoing and maintained that routine audits had not revealed any irregularities. However, amid intense media attention, it requested the state government to conduct an SIT investigation to establish the facts and address what it described as misinformation surrounding the matter.Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra welcomed the government’s decision, saying the speed with which the SIT was formed reflected the seriousness of the administration. He said senior officers had been entrusted with the inquiry and praised the government for setting a strict timeline for the investigation.
