Akhilesh Yadav Critiques Yogi Adityanath's Comments on Ram Temple Investigation

Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's comments on the ongoing investigation into alleged donation scams at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Yadav warned the SIT to be cautious about potential report tampering, suggesting that the government is stalling to hide evidence. In response, Adityanath assured that the investigation would clarify all issues, urging the public to provide any evidence they may have. The situation escalated with the SIT's recent raid on an employee's home, uncovering a significant amount of cash hidden in unusual places. This unfolding drama highlights the political tensions surrounding the temple's funding.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 21, 2026, 18:51 IST

Akhilesh Yadav's Sharp Response to Yogi Adityanath

In response to recent remarks made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has issued a pointed critique. He cautioned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged donation scam at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, stating on the social media platform X, "The SIT should be careful... lest the investigation report goes missing. Then they will say, wait another 15 days." Yadav accused the government of deliberately delaying the investigation to conceal evidence.

Formation of a Three-Member SIT for Ram Temple Scam Investigation

Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government has established a high-level three-member SIT to investigate the misuse of donations at the Ayodhya Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The team is led by Vijay Vishwas Pant, the divisional commissioner of Lucknow, with IG Kiren S and special secretary of the finance department, Neel Ratan, as members. They have been instructed to submit an initial report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.

Raids Conducted on Accused Employee's Residence

On Saturday, the SIT took significant action by detaining Love Kush Mishra, an employee responsible for counting donations at the temple. During a raid at his home in the village of Meenapur Fagouli in Rudauali, approximately 10 lakh rupees in cash was recovered. Surprisingly, some of the money was found hidden in a cupboard, while other cash was buried under a pile of cow dung outside his house. Investigations into the source of the funds are ongoing.

Yogi Adityanath's Assurance on the Investigation

In light of the ongoing controversy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that the SIT's investigation would clarify all matters. He remarked, "The nation has waited 500 years for the Ram Temple, so people can wait another 15 days for this investigation." Additionally, he criticized the Samajwadi Party, stating that those who once fired upon Ram devotees and wielded sticks at those chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' are now offering us advice. The CM urged the public to submit any evidence related to the case directly to the SIT, prompting Yadav's sharp retort.