Ayodhya: The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a comprehensive status report regarding the ongoing probe into the alleged embezzlement of donation money at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohna issued formal notices to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, addressing multiple pleas that demand a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation into the high-profile donations theft row.
The top court is currently handling three separate petitions filed by concerned citizens and public figures seeking deeper institutional scrutiny. Petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami has moved the court requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe along with a formal audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) into the financial management of the trust. A second petition filed by practising advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav echoes these demands, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory, supervisory, and audit mechanisms to protect public interest and secure the trust of millions of devotees worldwide. Additionally, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Sudhakar Singh has approached the court seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI investigation paired with a rigorous forensic audit of the entire financial ecosystem of the temple trust.
The legal action follows the initial formation of the three-member SIT by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13, which was established at the request of the temple trust itself after initial reports of financial discrepancies surfaced. Comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan, the state-led panel had commenced inquiries without registering a formal First Information Report (FIR). Petitioners argue that a broader multi-disciplinary investigation is vital, noting that the reports of missing funds deeply impact the sentiments and confidence of the public, regardless of the ultimate findings of the inquiry.
