Supreme Court Urges Uttar Pradesh to Consider SIT for Ram Temple Donation Investigation

Supreme Court's Directive on Ram Temple Donation Case

New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to inform it about the feasibility of establishing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged misappropriation of donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court also warned the involved parties against politicizing the matter.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, requested Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, to clarify whether the SIT, which had previously looked into the matter before the FIR was filed, could take over the investigation from local police.

CJI Kant emphasized, "This is a straightforward criminal case. We are here to ensure a thorough investigation, not to engage in politics."

Mehta informed the court that the state government had submitted a status report in compliance with a prior order.

"The investigation is ongoing, and eight individuals have been arrested. I cannot disclose further details," he stated.

When asked about the SIT's involvement, Mehta clarified, "The SIT was formed to ascertain the facts. Currently, the police are handling the investigation, which has identified a cognizable offense."

The bench noted that the SIT included two senior IAS officers and the Inspector General of Police from Lucknow, questioning whether they could lead the main investigation to ensure transparency and fairness.

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, representing one of the petitioners, mentioned, "Our PIL requests that the donation receipts from the temple's construction be preserved and made available online."

The bench indicated it would review this request and issue directives during the next hearing scheduled for the following Monday.

Previously, on July 13, the bench had ordered the Uttar Pradesh Police to provide a status update on the case.

It also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust regarding petitions calling for a fair and timely investigation into the alleged theft of donations.

Narendra Kumar Goswami, one of the three petitioners, has approached the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the allegations.

He also requested an audit of the Trust's finances, which oversees the Ram temple, by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav submitted a second petition seeking similar actions.

Additionally, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh's petition calls for a CBI-monitored investigation and a forensic audit of the temple Trust's finances.

Earlier, a partial working day bench led by Justice B V Nagarathna had instructed one of the petitioners to request an urgent hearing for a later date.

The petition filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav urged that a CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other illegalities related to the temple Trust's administration.

Rai's petition requested that the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Trust establish necessary regulatory and audit mechanisms to protect public interest and maintain the trust of millions of devotees and donors.

Regardless of the outcome regarding the alleged missing funds and irregularities, the reports have raised significant concerns among those who fought for Ayodhya's restoration, the petition stated.

It also highlighted that the SIT initiated its inquiry without an FIR or any formal criminal case.

The petition emphasized that the issues at hand not only involve potential cognizable offenses but also directly impact the faith and sentiments of countless devotees and the general public.

On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government formed the SIT at the request of the temple Trust following allegations of donation misappropriation.

The SIT was composed of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.