Goa, June 27 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of fund siphoning at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, days after senior state leaders and the temple trust dismissed the claims as baseless.

When the controversy first surfaced earlier this month, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak rejected the allegations, describing them as an attempt to spread misinformation.

"Those trying to spread rumours about Shri Ram Temple are attempting to create a false narrative. The people of the state understand such politics," Pathak had said on June 8.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which independently manages the temple, also denied any financial irregularities....