The cash loot incident in Ayodhya Ram temple, one of the topmost shrines for millions of Hindus across the globe, has taken  fresh turn with the Special Investigation Team(SIT)  arresting eight people in connection with the sensational case. Besides, nearly two crores of Indian rupees have also been seized from the arrested accused persons. All of them were employees of the famous shrine.

         The SIT was set up by the Uttar Pradesh government after allegations surfaced that crores of rupees have been systematically looted from the donation boxes kept inside the temple. Lakhs of devotees visit the shrine every day and many of them donate ‘’offers’’ in the form of cash as well as gold and silver ornaments which had also been reportedly stolen away by the miscreants. The SIT had submitted a preliminary report to the Uttar Pradesh government which was followed by registration of a FIR(First Information Report). The arrests have been made on the basis of the FIR.

        Ayodhya is part of Uttar Pradesh, India’s biggest state which is currently being ruled by the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.

         Interestingly, some of the arrested persons were known as close associates of a few members of the board that was in-charge of running the important temple. This has prompted many devotees and analysts to believe that instead SIT, the case should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI), the country’s premier probe agency.

         ‘’A free and fair investigation is the need of the hour as the shocking incident has already hurt the sentiments of millions of Ram devotees across the globe. Therefore, the best competent authorities should be roped in to probe the case’’, said an elderly devotee.

         Some analysts do not rule out the possibility of the Supreme Court of India intervening in the matter in the coming days. ‘’Í will not be surprised if somebody moves the apex court in the coming days demanding a probe into the highly sensitive case either by a sitting or a retired Supreme Court judge’’ said an analyst.

---------------------------