New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government is scheduled to submit a detailed status report to the Supreme Court on Monday regarding allegations of massive financial irregularities and siphoning of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana will peruse the document in a sealed cover during the July 20 hearing. The apex court had previously directed the state government to detail the exact clinical composition of the investigative panel to ensure institutional transparency while shielding active case findings from public leakages.
The high-level panel—consisting of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S., and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan—previously submitted its preliminary findings to the state administration on June 23. Following that assessment, an official FIR was registered, and Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari was appointed the lead investigating officer to spearhead field operations. The initial crackdown resulted in the arrest of eight accused individuals, including Avinash Shukla and Anukalp Mishra, who were employed to handle and count daily cash offerings inside the temple hall. Security reviews revealed systemic vulnerabilities, with CCTV footage showing staff members concealing bundles of currency notes in their personal belongings.
The upcoming judicial review follows notices issued by the Supreme Court to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust concerning three distinct Public Interest Litigations. The petitions collectively argue that the scale of the embezzlement requires a direct Central Bureau of Investigation probe under court-monitored supervision, alongside a comprehensive forensic audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General to protect the offerings of millions of devotees. Amidst growing public concern, the trust accepted the resignations of its General Secretary Champat Rai and senior member Anil Mishra, subsequently inviting applications to appoint its first professional Chief Executive Officer.
Adding a fresh layer of legal complexity ahead of the Monday session, the Nirmohi Akhara has moved a miscellaneous application seeking a complete reconstitution of the temple trust board. The religious denomination claims the current administrative setup lacks basic accountability and fails to align with the historic 2019 Ayodhya verdict. The Akhara’s petition demands an independent oversight panel to evaluate trust compliance, a strict forensic audit of all historical property deals, and the restoration of traditional ancient idols at the sanctum sanctorum. Concurrently, the court will evaluate a financial freeze petition moved by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, which seeks to restrain the trust from making large-scale commercial contracts or investments until the final status report resolves the extent of the missing funds.
