Supreme Court Seeks New Ram Temple SIT
The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to consider reconstituting the investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Supreme Court seeks revamped SIT probe
A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the proposed Special Investigation Team should be led by an experienced senior IPS officer capable of conducting a fair and transparent inquiry.
The court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consult the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police and obtain instructions on restructuring the investigation team. The matter will be heard again on July 27.
The Bench was considering several petitions seeking judicial supervision, a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry and an independent audit of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Ram Temple donation theft investigated
An SIT previously constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government had conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted its status report to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. That inquiry resulted in the registration of a criminal case, after which the regular police continued the investigation.
Eight people have reportedly been arrested as investigators examine allegations involving theft from cash donations and weaknesses in the collection and counting process.
The Supreme Court indicated that an officer familiar with the preliminary inquiry could lead the reconstituted team, helping the investigation reach its logical conclusion.
Court warns against political controversy
The Bench cautioned all parties against politicising the case, describing it as an alleged criminal offence requiring a proper investigation rather than political debate.
The court also stressed that records of donations for which receipts were issued must be maintained and properly accounted for. It did not accept a proposal to publish all claimed donations online, noting that verifying unsupported claims could be difficult.
The Trust has introduced additional controls over cash counting, including a revised team and greater banking supervision.
