Monday turned into a long night of investigation at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya. The Special Investigation Team, set up to get to the bottom of an alleged theft from the Ram Mandir donation box, reached the city the same day and went straight into the complex to begin its work. The team stayed put until 11 PM, and over roughly 8 hours it combed through every angle of the case.
43 People Questioned On Site
During the probe, a total of 43 people were questioned right inside the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, each one interrogated separately so that their accounts could be cross-checked. The group included officials of the Ram Mandir Trust as well as employees of SBI bank who had been assigned to count the contents of the donation box. Ram Mandir Trust general secretary Champat Rai, special invited member Gopal Rao, and the trust's ex-officio member, the District Magistrate of Ayodhya, were all present while the questioning took place.
From Donation Boxes To Bank Accounts
The SIT did not limit itself to interviews alone. The team carried out an on-the-spot inspection of the various donation boxes kept in the complex. CCTV footage from the cameras installed across the temple premises was examined to build a clear picture of what had happened. Several case files were also scrutinised, and the team traced the money all the way to the amounts deposited in banks, following the full chain of transactions. The committee also separately questioned the accused whom the trust had been holding inside the complex for several days.
Investigators Stayed Overnight
The investigation continued inside the complex till late into the night, and afterwards the team chose to stay back in Ayodhya rather than return. Members of the committee spent the night at the Saryu guest house in Ramnagari. Late at night, the in-charge of the Ram Janmabhoomi police station and the Ayodhya circle officer were also called into the complex.
No Detentions, No Arrests
Senior police officers say that so far no one has been taken into custody and no one has been sent to jail. It has also emerged that the Ram Mandir Trust has not yet submitted any formal complaint letter. The SIT eventually left the complex under a heavy security cover.
What Comes Next
The team is expected to continue its inquiry today as well. Once the probe is complete, the SIT will soon hand over a detailed report on the alleged embezzlement from the Ram Janmabhoomi donation box to the Chief Minister's Office.
