The Special Investigation Team, formed on 13 June at the behest of the Ram Mandir Trust, sifted through months of CCTV footage and identified 105 separate thefts of donated goods. The footage, combined with software‑generated receipts, revealed that valuables were being stored in a State Bank of India locker at the temple premises. Eight individuals have been named in the FIR, including Avinash Shukla and Anukalp Mishra, and all have been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Under the leadership of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, the SIT filed a preliminary report on 23 June that outlined stringent recommendations for the Trust’s internal controls. The report also highlighted that former military officer Jitendra Mishra has taken over as CEO, promising system reforms after the removal of former trustees Champat Rai and Anil Mishra.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the Sessions Judge to act on the forthcoming charge sheet, while the bench declined to release the SIT report to petitioners. The court also noted the number of arrests and the evidence presented, including witness statements and CCTV footage, as sufficient for proceeding.
With the charge sheet slated for filing on 25 September, the Supreme Court has effectively transferred the matter to the lower judiciary, where the magistrate will determine the next judicial steps. A devotee who previously donated a silver lamp said he will regain confidence once the case concludes.