LUCKNOW, July 21 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has extended the tenure of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of devotees' offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya by another two weeks, allowing the panel to continue its inquiry till July 30.

Sources familiar with the development said the three-member administrative SIT sought additional time to complete its exercise, following which the state government approved the extension.

The government is also examining the recent directions of the Supreme Court in connection with the matter and is expected to take an appropriate decision on the future course of the probe in accordance with the apex court's orders, officials said. Constituted on June 13, the SIT ...