Supreme Court Seeks SIT Status Report Within a Week in Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donation Probe
The Supreme Court has sought a detailed status report within one week from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate allegations of embezzlement and diversion of donations made to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The direction came as the apex court agreed to examine a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged financial irregularities involving temple donations.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, also issued notices to the Union Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, directing them to respond to the allegations raised in the petitions. The Court clarified that the SIT’s report must not only detail the progress of the investigation but also disclose the composition of the probe team.
The petitions before the Court seek an independent, court-supervised CBI investigation and a forensic audit of the temple trust’s finances, alleging large-scale misappropriation of cash donations and valuable offerings made by devotees. Petitioners have also requested directions for preservation of financial records, CCTV footage, digital transaction logs and other evidence to ensure that no material relevant to the investigation is lost or tampered with.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the Bench that the State had already constituted an SIT and that the investigation was progressing. While the State urged the Court to refrain from issuing further notices, the Bench nevertheless directed the SIT to submit its report and asked the Trust to file its response, observing that the matter warranted judicial scrutiny before any decision on the request for a CBI probe could be taken.
The alleged donation theft case has generated nationwide attention after investigators uncovered claims of systematic siphoning of cash and valuables donated by devotees at the Ram Mandir. Several arrests have already been made in connection with the alleged theft, while the Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT continues to examine the extent of the financial irregularities and the possible involvement of additional individuals.
The Supreme Court has posted the matter for further hearing next week, when it will consider the SIT’s status report and the responses filed by the Centre, the State and the Temple Trust. The proceedings are expected to determine whether the ongoing State investigation is sufficient or whether the circumstances justify a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
