The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has expanded its investigation into the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, examining over Rs 124 crore spent on major religious events, including the Ram Lalla consecration ceremony, the 2025 Maha Kumbh, and the temple’s flag-hoisting ceremony.
Investigators are carrying out a detailed audit of the trust’s financial records in the past two years, according to sources. The audit report will be examined along with payment vouchers, bills, the chartered accountant record and expenditure statements to see if the money was spent in the approved financial procedures.
Officials said the audit was a continuous one that looks at the company’s finances and that so far there were no findings to suggest irregularities in the finances. The aim is to examine the trust’s compliance with its own internal procedures and practices that led to the granting of approvals.
The enlarged investigation comes in the wake of the donation thefts scandal from the trust, which resulted in the formation of an SIT by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate allegations of embezzlement of devotes’ donations. The investigation has since expanded to cover the trust’s financial management in general.
The controversy has also inspired a lot of bureaucratic adjustments. The trust recently received the resignations of the General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, and Krishna Mohan was appointed as interim General Secretary, as the trust strives to bolster governance.
Its highest expense in the review seems to be the ticket that costs Rs 113 crore for the consecration ceremony of his portrait at Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024, which reportedly includes expenses for event infrastructure, Akshat Pujan activities, publicity, decoration and lighting.