Ram Mandir donation theft: Supreme Court seeks status from new SIT, calls for speedy probe

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a report on the status of its probe into the Ayodhya Ram Mandir fund embezzlement case.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged theft of funds collected for the construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today submitted that the State has reconstituted the SIT and it is now headed by Inspector General of Police (IG) Kiran S, and comprising senior police officers, including a Deputy Inspector General, an Inspector General and a Superintendent of Police.

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for one of the petitioners, submitted that devotees across the country had contributed amounts ranging from ₹100 to ₹500 through an organised collection drive, and that all of the money has allegedly not reached the trust overseeing the Ram Mandir’s construction and management.

He urged the Court to direct that receipts issued by the trust be uploaded online to ensure transparency.

However, the Chief Justice said the Court was presently focused on ensuring a fair and speedy investigation and would consider other remedial measures for transparency after the SIT's findings are placed on record. 

"Let the SIT give its report. All remedial steps to ensure transparency will be taken. We are on qualitative investigation of the incident. We are focused on having a fair, speedy and impartial investigation,” the CJI observed.

In its order, the Court recorded that the Uttar Pradesh government has issued an office memorandum constituting an SIT to probe the Ayodhya Ram Mandir fund theft case. The Court also recorded SG Mehta’s submission that a forensic auditor will be made part of the investigation. 

“We have been informed SIT has taken charge. Let the SIT submit a status report on the next date. If SIT faces some issues then also we will issue some directions,” the Court added. 

The petitioners before the Court include one filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who have contended the earlier SIT tasked with looking into the case lacked the forensic and investigative infrastructure required for a complex financial probe.

The petitioners stated and that the earlier SIT had commenced its inquiry without registration of a first information report (FIR), leaving the evidentiary value of its findings vulnerable to challenge.

Apart from seeking a CBI probe, the petitioners also urged the Court to issue interim directions to the Ram Mandir's Trust and the State to preserve all physical, electronic and financial records, including donation registers, ledgers, CCTV footage, bank records and software databases.

Another petition on the matter was filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Sudhakar Singh seeking the transfer of the ongoing investigation to the CBI, under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Singh argued that the constitution of a temporary court-monitored oversight committee comprising retired judicial officers, financial experts and persons of “impeccable integrity” is necessary to oversee the Trust’s secular financial and administrative affairs during the pendency of the investigation.

Singh also sought directions to preserve all physical and electronic financial records, including account books, bank records, UPI logs, CCTV footage, emails and servers, to prevent destruction or tampering of evidence.

At the last hearing, SG Mehta had informed the Court that the earlier SIT had only looked into limited aspects of the case, including whether the complaints are genuine, and concluded that a cognisance offence had been committed. The police was carrying out subsequent investigation, SG Mehta indicated.

The Court, in response, had asked whether the State could consider have its SIT investigate the main case as well. At the time, the top court had also warned against politicising the matter.

Subsequently, the UP government reconstituted the SIT.

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