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India Today has accessed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report that revealed details of a donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
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00:05And we are starting news track tonight with some details which have come in and this is
00:11the SIT preliminary report which has revealed complete details of the investigation. The
00:17report includes all significant facts and development related to the investigation and
00:21the report includes all important details with regards to the investigation is what
00:27we are being told at the moment as far as the SIT findings are concerned we'll try and get more
00:35details of that but at the moment what we can say is that we have access details of the SIT
00:42report
00:43and it does talk about the nature of investigation which has happened so far and also remember this
00:52is coming on a day that the trust has accepted the resignations of the general secretary that is
00:59Mr. Champath Rai and Anil who is one of the trustees now the SIT report which has been accessed by
01:09India
01:09today gives us some details with regards to the investigation.
01:39We'll try and get more details of that but what we can tell our viewers at the moment is
01:45that the SIT report of course focuses largely on the developments which have happened what is
01:54exactly the amount of embezzlement is still not clear.
02:05Let's put the spotlight on the topic of the show tonight. It is the third day of the funeral ceremonies
02:10of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The coffins of the supreme leader and his family
02:16members killed in the U.S.-Israel strikes on February 28th were taken out for a procession against Tehran
02:23after leaders from around 100 countries paid a tribute at the Grand Musala. Large crowds gathered
02:29on the streets of Tehran waving flags and carrying images of the late leader. The coffins of Khamenei
02:36along with those of his daughter son-in-law daughter-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter were taken out
02:42for the final public prayers. The funeral processions will continue over the next few days
02:47moving to Qaum and later to Iraq's Najaf and Karbala. The final burial will be taking place in Mashhad
02:54on July 9th at the Imam Reza Shrine. Before I bring in the guests, here's a report.
03:14For a third straight day, thousands of thronged Tehran streets, not just to mourn but to send a message.
03:25The funeral of Ayatollah al-Khamenei has become far more than a farewell.
03:35It has evolved into a show of force by a regime determined to prove it stands unbroken
03:42months after losing its supreme leader in the opening strike of the U.S.-Israel war.
03:51But Khamenei's son and successor Mojtava was still nowhere to be seen. Perhaps due to security concerns,
03:58as trigger-happy Israeli forces may seek to assassinate the successor of Ayatollah Khamenei.
04:04It's a very massive hand, a symbolic hand of former supreme leader Ayatollah al-Khamenei. And if you can see,
04:12a ring of his identification. If you remember, on 28th of February, when the air strikes have been conducted
04:19by the Israelis and Americans in a joint operation, only this is the only hand and the ring which can
04:26identify his body. And now, this became a symbol of their revolution or their fight with Americans and the Israelis.
04:35The optics are unmistakable. Khamenei's body was carried through Tehran's busiest arteries,
04:45past university gates, bookstores, cafes and through the Azadi Square.
04:53Tying his legacy directly to the beating heart of the capital he ruled over with an iron fist for over
04:58three decades.
05:02Grief here is fused with fury. Red and white flags, sheer symbols of martyrdom and vengeance ripple through the crowds.
05:13Placards demand Donald Trump's death. Chants of deaths to America and deaths to Israel echo through the procession.
05:27For the Islamic regime, this outpouring is a political gift. Prove that the war has hardened public resolve rather than
05:33shake it.
05:40The mourning isn't over.
05:51From Tehran, Khamenei's mortal remains will be taken to Qaum.
05:55From there, his body will be moved to the Imam Hussain Shrine in Karbala in Iraq before the final burial
06:01at the Imam Raza Shrine in Mashhad, his hometown on the 9th of July.
06:07In death, analysts say, Khamenei may prove to be even more powerful than in life, a martyr now woven into
06:13Iran's founding myths of resistance and revenge.
06:20With Sumit Chaudhary from Tehran, Bureau of Report India today.
06:28And joining me now is Professor Fouad Izadi, who is an Associate Professor, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.
06:36He's joining me from Tehran.
06:37Dr. Izadi, Iranian media and social media platforms are highlighting that distinct Quranic verses were recited for different foreign delegations
06:49at the funeral.
06:50For example, the Battle of Badr for the Saudi delegation and other verses for others, you know, multiple other delegations.
07:00What was the thinking behind selecting these particular ayats for each group, and how do they serve as subtle diplomatic
07:07signals?
07:11Well, you know, in Islamic culture, during a funeral, whether it's in Iran or any other Muslim country, Quran, verses
07:22of the Holy Quran are recited.
07:26The reciters that were available, and that they are famous Iranian reciters, people who have won prizes internationally.
07:36And maybe, you know, it was up to them to choose and read the verses that they want to do.
07:43It's possible that they chose the verses that thought it's appropriate for the setting.
07:52But making too much out of it, I think, is not really necessary.
07:59I think what is important is what is happening in Iran today.
08:03Millions of people coming to the funeral of the Iranian leader.
08:10You know, this is what Netanyahu asked the Iranians to do, to come to the streets in millions.
08:15And they are coming, chanting against Trump and Netanyahu.
08:20I think that is significant.
08:22You know, this is the third day of mourning for the last three days.
08:29Millions and millions of people are showing up to oppose their country being attacked, their country's officials to be attacked.
08:39And you don't have to be a very strong supporter of any government to realize that when genocidal people attack
08:50your country,
08:51they will kill little schoolgirls, they will attack hospitals, they will attack bridges.
08:55This is what the Americans and Israelis have done.
08:57So I think that is much more significant than the decision of a reciter to choose the verse that he
09:08wanted to recite.
09:09Dr. Zadhi, you say that that's not really significant, but lots being read about it.
09:15The funeral of a supreme leader is a deeply spiritual and personal moment of national mourning.
09:23Why did Iran choose this solemn occasion to send broader political and diplomatic messages to the world
09:30through carefully chosen recitation, high-profile attendance and public chants?
09:37Dr. Zadhi, you know, this is political Islam.
09:42As I said, I don't know if the reciter of the verse chose the verse in a specific manner, but
09:52let's assume they did.
09:54This is political Islam, meaning that when you are engaging in a spiritual moment, you don't forget about the message
10:08that you have.
10:11And this is what the Islamic revolution was all about, creating an state where you would resist.
10:22And it is that culture that has resulted in 47 years of sanctions and wars against these people.
10:32And they continue to resist, and they continue to grow, and they continue to build missiles with indigenous technology
10:40that can resist two nuclear regimes.
10:44So if you are a good journalist, if you are wondering why Iran is acting the way Iran is acting,
10:52it's because of this message that they have, that they are not going to forget why they are resisting.
11:02And the reason they are resisting is because they don't want two nuclear regimes that just finish a genocide in
11:12Palestine
11:13to repeat these pictures in Iran or Lebanon or any other place.
11:18So they are Muslims, and they are reciting the Quran, but they are fighting for humanity.
11:25They are fighting for people in India who may not be Muslims, but don't like these type of illegal attacks.
11:34They ask Trump, why you want to take over Iranian oil?
11:37And his response is that, I'm a businessman and I like to make money.
11:41You have a lot of businessmen in India. Doing business does not mean cheating or stealing other people's resources.
11:52So this is, I think, very important. This is middle of summer, and you have millions of people in the
12:01middle of the day
12:02doing what you see in your television screen. This is very special.
12:07You know, you have used a very interesting phrase, political Islam, Dr. Ezadi.
12:14Officials have said that Iran wanted to open the doors to everyone for the funeral,
12:19yet Western nations were largely absent.
12:23Some delegations weren't invited based on their positions during the conflict,
12:27and others, you know, there were a number of them that attended this very prominently.
12:33What does this selective participation actually tell us about Iran's current alliances?
12:42Yes, that's true. The countries that supported this attack on Iran were not invited.
12:48Remember, this is the funeral of the country's leader that was assassinated illegally.
12:53So if you supported Trump, you are not going to be welcomed, and these people were not welcomed.
12:58We had a large delegation from India, both officials and scholars and citizens that came in.
13:08And this is the message that Iran is trying to send.
13:13That if you belong to the civilized world, you are welcomed, and they encourage actually people to participate.
13:21But if you belong to the Epstein class, Iran is not going to be a good place to spend your
13:28summer.
13:29My last question to you, and this is with regards to Mojitaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader,
13:35who did not attend his father's funeral even as his brothers and other family members were present.
13:40Of course, this is citing security threats from Israel.
13:43What message does this send about leadership continuity and also about the stability of the transition at such a critical
13:51time?
13:54You know, the Israeli defense minister threatened to assassinate him.
14:00And, you know, Israelis are good at assassinations. They have been doing it since 1948.
14:06They have killed a lot of people. They are on a rampage.
14:10There is no limitation on the type of illegal behavior that they have.
14:17So it is more important to keep the country's leader safe than to address curiosity of some Western journalists.
14:25But he is doing what Iran's constitution is asking the leader to do.
14:31And we cannot elect a new leader every other day.
14:35So they want to make sure that his safety is priority and this is going to be the case for
14:41some time.
14:43All right, Dr. Izzadi, really appreciate your time.
14:46Let me bring in Syed Zamir Abbas Jafri, who's a professor at Al-Mustafa International University.
14:52Thank you for joining us.
14:54Zamir Abbas, I've been following your analysis of how each delegation is being sent a message through a carefully chosen
15:00Islamic words.
15:01For Saudi delegation, they received a verse evoking a historic Muslim victory against greater odds by divine will.
15:12While the Qatari delegation was met with a verse underscoring reliance on God amidst perceived threats.
15:20How do you read these choices?
15:25Thank you very much for having me on the show.
15:27The Ayats, the Quranic verses that were selected for each and every delegation had a specific message and you're correct
15:35on that.
15:36These Ayats were selected with a clear strategic goal of Islamic Republic of Iran.
15:43Iran does not see the Muslim nations, the neighboring Muslim nations as the enemy.
15:49But it sees them as those who will align with them with the Islamic view, with the Islamic ideology of
15:57resistance against the imperialistic powers.
16:00So the Ayats were selected to remind them what God wants from them.
16:05For example, the Ayat of the Holy Quran chapter 3 verse 13 that was selected for Saudi.
16:13It is about the war of Badr where Muslims were only 313 and the people who came to attack them
16:20were more than 1000 people.
16:22They had all the resources like the horse and the camels and the weapons and everything and Muslims did not
16:27have anything.
16:28But Allah helped the Muslims and Muslims finally won.
16:31And in this Ayat, Allah says that there is lessons for those who have eyes or who are Ahl Basira,
16:39who can reflect.
16:42So the Ayat was not to say that Saudi is in the enemy's camp because there are three points here.
16:48One is the enemy, the enemy, which is the army of the evil.
16:54Then there is the army of the good.
16:56And then this third factor, which is the Muslim.
16:59So the message for the Muslims here is that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has given lessons to you in
17:07history.
17:07So you should learn from these lessons where even if few people stand up for the cause of justice, Allah
17:13will help them.
17:14And finally, they will be victorious.
17:15So Saudi was given the message that whatever is happening around you, see that Allah helped you against America.
17:22And it was very few people who fought the most powerful army in the world as they claim it to
17:28be.
17:28And still Iran came out victorious.
17:31So there are lessons for Muslims and Saudi should take lessons and come out of this imperialistic setup and join
17:37the Muslim.
17:39Okay, Professor Jafri, the massive funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei has become a global stage.
17:44What do you see as the primary message Iran is projecting to the world, especially to the Muslim world beyond
17:50the Gulf, Islamic nations in West Asia, Turkey and Central Asian countries?
17:54Does it point to stronger coordination, realignment or renewed unity among these players amidst shared challenges?
18:03Do you see this unite the Shia and the Sunni Muslims?
18:10Yes, there are many messages with this funeral procession.
18:13So normally when a funeral procession takes place, the main theme is sorrow, sadness and, you know, grief.
18:23But this procession has a different theme to it.
18:27So the main slogan of this procession is this fist of Ayatollah Khamenei.
18:32When his dead body was recovered, his hands were like this.
18:35The fist was tight.
18:37And the slogan for this procession is Kumu Lillah.
18:41We must rise for the cause of good and even for the cause of good and justice.
18:46And we should rise for God Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
18:49So the theme is of continuation of the ideology of resistance against the imperialistic and the global colonialist powers.
19:01So this this funeral is an extension of what Ayatollah Khamenei projected throughout his life.
19:08And it clearly states that after his martyrdom, the theme has not ended, but it has entered into a new
19:18chapter.
19:19So in a new era.
19:21And that era is after Ayatollah Khamenei's martyrdom.
19:25Now is the time for the Muslims and those people who do not want these imperialist powers to control them
19:32to stand on their own feet.
19:34They should rise, they should stand up and they should confront this bullying imperialistic powers.
19:41So the idea of this funeral is very clear.
19:44What message it wants to give to the West is that West was projecting that Ayatollah Khamenei is not loved
19:51inside Iran.
19:52But now we see it's the biggest funeral procession in the history of mankind,
19:58which shows clearly how Ayatollah Khamenei ruled over the hearts of the people.
20:04My last question, looking ahead, since you're saying that this is the beginning of a new chapter,
20:08what broader regional consequences do you foresee from this kind of mobilization?
20:16So in the Muslim world, there are two kinds of people.
20:20One are those who are aligned with the ideology of resistance, which is Gaza, which is Yemen, which is Lebanon,
20:29and Iran, and Iraq, to some extent Iraq as well.
20:33Now, these are pro-resistance forces. It wants to give them the message that the resistance is alive, and the
20:40resistance is supported, and resistance has the backing of the people of Iran, and the resistance will continue, and the
20:47resistance is on the rise.
20:48So this is the message for these people who are in alignment with the ideology of resistance against the imperialistic
20:55powers.
20:55Now, to the other people who are not in the favor of resistance are of two types.
21:01One who do not like resistance and hate resistance, and they want to be towards the side of U.S.
21:07and Israel,
21:08for them the message is clear that this resistance is alive, and if you hate them, if you hate it,
21:13it does not matter, because it will grow.
21:15And because it's so natural for the people to hate injustice, this resistance is here to stay.
21:21And for those who are in the middle ground, for them it is a message that resistance has shown that
21:26it can fight and it can win.
21:28Now, it's the time for the Muslims to support resistance, and in fact, the majority of the Muslims today do
21:34support resistance.
21:34It's only the few kings or their families or their rulers that actually are standing against or they're not supporting
21:42the resistance,
21:42but the majority of the Muslim people, because of the Gaza situation, they do support resistance.
21:49So there is a message of unity, there is a message of strength, there is a message of power,
21:54there is a message of clear alignment with the ideology of resistance and unity of those people who are aligned
22:01with this ideology.
22:02All right, Professor Jafri, really appreciate your time.
22:06Meanwhile, Iran has thanked India for participating in the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
22:12It has called the gesture a precious testament to the enduring ties between the two countries.
22:17Not just that, it has also asserted that the people of Islamic Republic will never forget New Delhi's show of
22:22solidarity.
22:23Remember, on behalf of the Indian government, Bihar Governor Sayyid Atta Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs,
22:28Vaabitra Margherita attended the week-long procession on July 3rd.
22:32Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehboa Mufti and Senior Congress Leader Salman Khushid were also in attendance.
22:42What began as a state funeral has transformed into a powerful political spectacle.
22:47Tehran's streets have become a stage for grief, resistance and anti-American sentiments,
22:53with millions gathering to bid farewell to Adela Ali Khamenei.
22:56Chans against the U.S. and Israel echoed across the capital,
23:01while the Iranian establishment used the occasion to reinforce the late leaders' legacy
23:06and project national unity in the face of mourning external pressures.
23:11Here's a ground report from Tehran.
23:22We must try, we must fight.
23:24This is what the message Iranian regime, Iranian government wanted to send all across the world.
23:30And if you see, a symbolic hand of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been placed,
23:36has been constructed on Azadi Square.
23:39From last three to four days, this symbolic construction has been conducted.
23:45It's a very massive hand, a symbolic hand of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
23:51And if you can see, a ring of his identification.
23:54If you remember, on 28th of February, when the air strikes have been conducted by the Israelis and Americans in
24:02a joint operation,
24:03only this is the only hand and the ring which can identify his body.
24:07And now, this became a symbol of their revolution or their fight with Americans and the Israelis.
24:13And this has been constructed, this has been put on Azadi Square.
24:17Azadi Square has mean a lot as far as we are talking about the Islamic revolution of 1979.
24:22But now, one more point, one more symbol of their fight, of their, you can say revolution, is now placed
24:30at Azadi Square.
24:32As thousands poured onto the streets for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral, grief quickly merged with fury.
24:54Protesters carried portraits of the late leader, waved Iranian flags and chanted slogans against US President Donald Trump and Israel.
25:02The anger stands from years of hostility between Tehran and Washington, sanctions, military confrontations and accusations that the United States
25:10has sought to weaken Iran's leadership.
25:14This is what it's possible to do.
25:44Many mourners have called Khamenei a symbol of resistance and vowed to continue his legacy.
25:51Anti-American banners and posters featuring Donald Trump have now been displayed across the city.
26:04These are the posters or the banners placed at different locations in Tehran when the funeral procession are moving from
26:12the Grand Mosalla to Azadi Square.
26:16These kind of posters have been placed at different locations not only to give a message a broader or a
26:22large message to US and Israel but also to boost the morale of their own people.
26:28And that is why not only they have placed these kind of posters but also claiming that their supreme leader
26:35has been killed by the Israelis and the US joint operations.
26:41Remember the protests come at a time when Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has the capability to
26:47take out Iran's surviving top leadership all in one shot.
26:51Meanwhile the Ayatollah's legacy is being passed on through postcards and booklets among Iranians.
26:55Supreme Leader is the first time the United States of the United States of China.
27:17foreign
28:13For many in Tehran, this is not just a farewell to a leader.
28:16It was a powerful display of national defiance.
28:20With Sumit Chaudhary, we have a report, India Today.
28:30And India Today has accessed the SIT report in that investigation of theft in the Ram Temple.
28:40And the details which have emerged is that the CCTV footage actually confirms the theft allegations.
28:48The SIT found out that cash room employees were seen opening bundles of currency notes
28:53and concealing notes in their pockets, socks or other personal locations instead of following proper procedures.
29:00The footage also showed deletion, manipulation of CCTV recordings and suspicious activities by the staff.
29:06The actions appeared to be systematic and repeated, not accidental or isolated incidents.
29:15And what the report has also found out is that employees were seen arriving at the counting room
29:20before others and taking advantage of moments when supervision was weak.
29:25Let me go straight to Samarth, who is joining us live from Ayodhya.
29:29So, prime of aside, the report is very clear that these individuals actually are responsible for what appears to be
29:38a systematic failure.
29:41The India Today TV has clearly accessed the SIT report, the preliminaries report,
29:45which we can say in which clearly Anil Mishra's role has come to the light.
29:49A very important chapter in this particular initial report clearly shows that how Anil Mishra knew things about
29:56the embezzlement inside the Ram Temple, but he did not act.
29:59He did not, in a way, did anything regarding this purpose.
30:03So, it's a big thing coming in, not just Anil Mishra, apart from him at the top.
30:06The other accused who are apparently behind the vase, their name has also been mentioned in that particular report
30:12where it is being clearly said that they used to hide the cash while counting
30:16and anybody could go inside the counting room.
30:20That's what the report says, not just that, even they were carrying the mobile phones regarding videos of the cash,
30:25clicking pictures of the donation money, that is the cash to the Ram Jan Bhoomi,
30:29and suddenly evaded with a lot of cash.
30:31Even as IT has got the CCTV footage of some particular dates,
30:34which clearly shows that how they were involved in the theft thing inside that particular temple.
30:41While the role of Anil Mishra has come to the light, it's going to be worth seeing.
30:45Any big action will go against Anil Mishra because Anil Mishra is one of the most strongest people
30:51in the trust we have seen for many years since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on the Ram Temple.
30:57But whether the SIT will, in its final report, will it take down Anil Mishra or some arresting
31:03could happen on the big fishes as well.
31:05Back to you.
31:07Samaj, does this report name individuals and their roles?
31:11Exactly. The report clearly names all those individuals who are behind the bars, number two.
31:17Number one and number two, the role of Anil Mishra, the name of Anil Mishra is clearly mentioned
31:22in that particular report and the report clearly says that how Anil Mishra had known about the things
31:27that were happening inside that particular area, but somewhere and somehow he either ignored that
31:32or he himself was involved in that. That's a part of the investigation. But yes, one thing is very clear
31:37that that carelessness on the part of Anil Mishra is quite written in that particular SIT report.
31:44All right, Samartha, I appreciate your time. Thank you so much.
31:46So the SIT report highlighting multiple lapses, non-compliance of security protocols as well.
31:52That's all from me. Thanks so much for watching.
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