Ram Temple Case: SIT submits status report to Supreme Court, Charge sheet against 3 Bank Employees
The new Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Shri Ram Temple theft case has submitted its status report to the Supreme Court on Monday.
The police will also soon submit a charge sheet to the court. The charge sheet is likely to implicate three bank employees.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation embezzlement case informed the Supreme Court on September 21, 2026, that it will file its first chargesheet by September 25, 2026, to prevent default bail for the eight arrested accused.
The SIT uncovered 105 distinct instances of alleged donation theft, an increase from previous interim counts, after reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements, and banking records.
Earlier, the first SIT set up by the Uttar Pradesh Government on June 13 had recorded over 70 instances of donation theft in its interim report.
Footage reportedly shows cash-counting staff concealing cash donations inside their clothing, pockets, and shoes.
In addition to the two employees who were previously identified in the police investigation, the role of another employee has been found suspicious. This employee was also involved in the counting. The previous SIT had publicly disclosed the names of two employees in its preliminary report, but the name of the third has been revealed in the police investigation.
Additionally, based on the statements of the accused, CCTV footage, and evidence, two to three trust employees may also be implicated in the FIR. Action is also likely against a trust official.
The theft, which came to light in June, was initially investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Lucknow Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, on the orders of the state government.
Based on this SIT’s preliminary report, trustee Krishna Mohan filed an FIR on June 25th against six counting personnel and two trust employees involved in the counting.
The police team, under the direction of Investigating Officer (CO) Ayodhya, Ashutosh Tiwari, was conducting the investigation when, on July 27th, the Supreme Court, taking cognizance of various petitions, ordered the formation of a new Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The three-member Special Investigation Team, formed under the leadership of Lucknow Inspector General Kiran S., submitted a status report on Monday after questioning trust employees, officials, and bank employees and examining evidence and CCTV footage collected by the police.
Eight individuals involved in handling and counting donations were previously arrested on June 26, 2026, following allegations raised by political leaders regarding siphoned temple offerings.
