- SIT's final report on Ram Mandir theft due this week.
- New names like Anil Mishra, Subhash Srivastava likely included.
- Investigation found 70 theft instances from CCTV footage.
State Bureau, Lucknow: The investigation report into the alleged donation theft at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya is almost ready and is likely to be submitted by this week.
According to sources, the final investigation report is likely to include several new names, including Dr Anil Mishra and the counting in-charge, Subhash Srivastava. On June 13, the government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant to investigate the offering theft case.
The government had given the SIT until July 15 to complete the investigation and submit the report. The SIT began investigating the case on June 15. It initially investigated the offering counting system. After reviewing 40 days of available CCTV footage, the SIT found evidence of 70 instances of theft.
In its preliminary investigation report, the SIT had accused Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Karunesh Pandey, and Ramashankar Mishra for the theft. Furthermore, the role of Dr Anil Mishra and the counting officer, Subhash Srivastava, was also described as suspicious.
Both of them did not follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set for counting and managing offerings. According to the SIT's preliminary report, Subhash Srivastava, as the counting in-charge, did not arrange for the workers engaged in the counting to be searched, nor did he make arrangements for them to wear clothes without pockets.
Furthermore, there were no restrictions on entry or exit to the counting site. CCTV footage shows counting personnel hiding bundles of money.
The SIT also examined valuables donated to the temple, but all were listed in the temple records. Some items are safe with the temple management, while others have been destroyed. The SIT's final investigation report is awaited.
The SIT was expected to submit its report to the government on Wednesday, but some additions are being made to the report, so it will now be submitted this week or within the next 48 hours. Only then will the details of the alleged involvement in the offering theft be revealed.