Supreme Court Suggests Inclusion of Chartered Accountant in Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Fraud Investigation

Supreme Court Hearing on Ram Temple Donation Fraud

During the proceedings regarding the alleged embezzlement of donations for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, proposed that a chartered accountant be included in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the claims of financial misconduct. The Supreme Court commenced hearings on four petitions on Monday, two of which demand a CBI inquiry. In a previous session, the Chief Justice ordered a restructuring of the SIT, suggesting that a new team led by senior IPS officers be formed instead of senior IAS officials for the investigation's purpose. It is anticipated that the Supreme Court will discuss the interim investigation status report submitted by the state's SIT tomorrow.

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The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the Supreme Court that a new SIT comprising three IPS officers has been established under court orders. This team includes IG Kiran S (Lucknow Range), DIG Somen Verma (Ayodhya Range), and SSP Gaurav Grover (Ayodhya).

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The legal representatives raised concerns regarding the substantial public contributions received by the trust, suggesting that this information should be made available on a website for transparency. Conversely, the government argued that the immediate priority is to expedite the investigation. In response, the Chief Justice's bench clarified that all details regarding the donations should be handed over to the SIT, emphasizing that the court's focus will remain on ensuring a transparent investigation into the donation irregularities.