Is The Ram Mandir SIT A Sham? Kejriwal Demands CBI Probe Over Theft Claims

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team formed to probe the alleged theft of offerings at Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, saying the panel has no legal force without a First Information Report. He alleged that the SIT was created to deflect scrutiny rather than identify those responsible.

Kejriwal said the government must clarify the legal provision under which the SIT was constituted. His attack has turned the alleged theft of temple offerings into a wider political issue, with AAP demanding registration of an FIR and a probe by central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

Kejriwal questions legal basis of Ram Mandir SIT

According to Kejriwal, an SIT cannot function meaningfully unless a criminal case has first been registered. He said, “The SIT has no real powers. Under the law, no SIT can be formed without an FIR. I want to ask under which section of which law this SIT has been constituted. There is no such provision.”

He further claimed that the team would not be able to summon people, carry out arrests or conduct raids. “It cannot do anything. It has only been created to cover up the matter, to hush it up, and to protect the big names involved,” Kejriwal said, accusing the government of misleading devotees.

The AAP chief also referred to allegations linked to land purchases in Ayodhya in 2021. He said a similar SIT had been announced then, but no FIR was registered and the matter faded from public attention. Kejriwal argued that the present probe could meet the same fate unless a formal criminal case is filed.

His remarks came amid AAP’s claim that the investigation is focusing on lower-level employees while avoiding those in positions of authority. Kejriwal said that if theft of offerings had continued for months or years, it could not have happened without the knowledge, involvement or protection of senior figures.

AAP demands FIR, CBI and ED probe

Kejriwal asked why the matter had not been transferred to the CBI and ED if the government was serious about finding the “real culprits”. He said devotees wanted to know why no FIR had been registered so far. AAP has framed the issue as one involving public faith, accountability and transparency in temple-related donations.

AAP MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh also attacked the SIT, calling it a “jhunjhuna”, or a symbolic device with no real purpose. He said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had asked people with evidence to submit it before the SIT, but Singh claimed the team had not acted with the seriousness required.

Singh said he had written to the SIT on June 20 and emailed it, seeking time to submit evidence. He repeated his earlier allegations related to land transactions in Ayodhya, claiming that land valued at lower amounts had been bought for much higher sums. These claims remain political allegations unless tested by an official investigation.

The AAP leader alleged that land worth ₹2 crore was purchased for ₹18.5 crore, land worth ₹3 crore for ₹24 crore, and land worth ₹9 crore for ₹55.37 crore. He linked these charges with his wider accusation of irregularities around Ram Mandir-related affairs and demanded a time-bound, monitored inquiry.

Sanjay Singh alleges theft of silver and donated items

Singh further claimed that 260 kg of silver, Bhagwan Ram’s padukas, a necklace and a silver idol of Kakabhushundi donated by a devotee had been stolen. He alleged that no arrest had been made despite recovery of some stolen offerings and donations. The claims have not been independently established in the provided material.

He accused those involved of continuing to appear at public events instead of facing legal action. Singh also said the trust connected with the temple should be brought under closer scrutiny because it was formed after the Supreme Court’s directions. He demanded a time-bound SIT under monitoring to restore public confidence.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was set up by the Centre following the Supreme Court’s 2019 Ayodhya verdict, which cleared the way for construction of the Ram temple. The temple has since become one of the country’s most prominent places of worship, receiving offerings from devotees across India.

That public importance is why allegations involving donations, precious metal offerings or land purchases carry political weight beyond Ayodhya. Any perception of weak investigation can quickly become a national controversy, especially when opposition parties accuse the ruling establishment of shielding influential people linked to temple management or associated organisations.

Singh used sharp political language against the BJP, referring to it as the “ED Party” and alleging that people linked to the BJP and RSS were involved in land scams and theft of offerings. The BJP and the Uttar Pradesh government’s response to the latest AAP allegations was not included in the material provided.

The controversy now centres on a basic legal and administrative question: whether the government’s SIT has enough authority to conduct a credible probe without an FIR. AAP says only a formal case and independent investigation can protect public trust. The next test will be whether authorities clarify the SIT’s mandate or register a criminal case.