Akhilesh Demands Deep Probe Into Alleged ‘Anti-Sanatan’ Gang In Temple Fund Row

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday called for a “deep investigation” into alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, intensifying the political row even as the Uttar Pradesh government has already constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the matter.

Yadav raised the demand while alleging the involvement of what he described as an “anti-Sanatan gang” behind the purported irregularities. His remarks came amid growing political exchanges over the issue, which centres on allegations concerning the handling of donations and temple funds. The controversy has triggered competing claims from political leaders and the temple trust.

In a post on social media platform X, Yadav alleged that the issue had escalated from questions over offerings and donations to concerns involving land transactions and claims of missing valuables. He suggested that a thorough inquiry was necessary to uncover what he described as a “maha ghotala” (major scam), while also demanding scrutiny of individuals he referred to as “unregistered associates” of the ruling party.

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The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier formed a three-member SIT to investigate allegations related to the financial management of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The move followed a request from the trust itself, which sought an impartial probe to clarify facts and counter what it described as misinformation and reputational damage.

Officials have stated that the SIT includes senior administrative and police officers: Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team has been tasked with examining allegations linked to donation handling and financial transactions associated with the temple trust. The issue first gained political traction on June 7, when Yadav cited media reports alleging discrepancies in temple donations and called for judicial intervention.

Since then, the matter has evolved into a broader political confrontation, with the opposition raising questions over transparency while the government maintains that an official inquiry is already underway. With the SIT beginning its assessment, the controversy is expected to remain a focal point in Uttar Pradesh’s political discourse, particularly given the sensitive religious and administrative dimensions surrounding the Ram Temple project.

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