New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to evaluate the possibility of forming a Special Investigation Team to formally take over the probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana distinctly cautioned all involved litigants against turning the legal matter into a political battleground. The Chief Justice explicitly stated that the courts do not serve as a venue for politics, clarifying that the situation is a straightforward case involving the commission of a crime where the judiciary’s sole focus remains ensuring a thorough and proper investigation.
During the initial phase of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, confirmed the submission of a comprehensive status report in compliance with previous judicial orders. Mehta informed the court that the investigation remains highly active and that law enforcement has already apprehended eight individuals linked to the financial irregularities. When questioned by the Bench regarding the role of the initial fact-finding unit, Mehta explained that the original panel was set up purely to verify the truthfulness of the complaints and dissolved after establishing the existence of a cognisable offence, leaving the active case file with local police. The Bench noted that the initial panel included two senior IAS officers and the Inspector General of Police of Lucknow, suggesting that re-engaging these specific high-ranking officials to spearhead the core criminal investigation would ensure administrative fairness and transparency.
The legal proceedings involve multiple public interest litigations demanding rigorous oversight of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s financial dealings. Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for a petitioner, urged the court to mandate the preservation and digital uploading of all donation receipts to protect the contributions of millions of devotees. Among the petitioners, Narendra Kumar Goswami, Ajay Kumar Rai, and Dinesh Kumar Yadav have pushed for a Supreme Court-monitored probe led by the Central Bureau of Investigation alongside financial audits conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General. A separate plea submitted by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh similarly demands a comprehensive forensic audit of the temple trust’s entire wealth. The Bench confirmed it would evaluate these administrative demands and issue formal directives when the case resumes next Monday.
