Ram Mandir ‘Donation Theft’: SC seeks UP SIT report, notice to trust

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a status report on the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The three-member bench, headed by CJI Surya Kant, sought a report from the special investigation team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the matter. The SC also probed the details of the composition of the SIT.

The bench had notified Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust about a series of public interest cases, seeking a CBI probe into the alleged financial irregularities and missing funds at the temple.

A petitioner argues that allegations of misuse, diversion and embezzlement of public donations for the construction of the Ram temple warrant the filing of a criminal case and an independent, timely investigation.

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According to the petitioners, although the SIT is investigating the allegations, it lacks the forensic and investigative infrastructure required for a complex financial investigation. They argued that the investigation was launched without registration of an FIR, leaving the evidentiary value of the findings open to challenge.

Some petitioners drew parallels with the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams case of ghee mixed with ghee; In this case, the SC replaced the state SIT with a multidisciplinary SIT led by the CBI.
The petitioners sought interim directions to the foundation and the UP government to preserve all physical, electronic and financial records, including donation records, ledgers, CCTV footage, bank records and software databases.

Another PIL was filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, seeking transfer of the ongoing investigation to CBI under SC supervision.