Ram Mandir donation theft case: SC orders UP govt to report on feasibility of SIT; here is what the CJI said | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to inform it about the feasibility of setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of embezzlement of donations linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court also advised the parties to avoid giving the matter a political color.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, asked Advocate General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, to seek directions as to whether the SIT, which was earlier looking into the matter before the FIR was registered, could be tasked with the investigation instead of the local police.
What the CJI said
“Just a small warning. Please do not politicize this issue. Courts are not the place for politics. It is a simple case of commission of crime. We are (here) only to ensure proper investigation,” the CJI said.
At the outset, Mehta said that as per the earlier order, the state government has submitted a status report.
“An investigation is underway. Eight people have been arrested. I can’t reveal much,” he said.
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Asked if the SIT was investigating the case, Mehta said, “SIT was constituted to find out the truth. Now it is being investigated by the police. The SIT has just found that there is a cognizable offence.”
The bench noted that two senior IAS officers and the Lucknow Inspector General of Police were part of this SIT and asked if they could lead the main investigation to ensure fairness and transparency.
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for one of the petitioners, said, “Our PIL states that when the temple was built, they sought donations from everyone. Now we are trying to get those receipts preserved and uploaded.”
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The court said it will look into it and issue some directions when it takes up the case next Monday.
On July 13, the court directed the Uttar Pradesh police to submit a status report.
It also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requesting a fair and time-bound inquiry into the alleged theft of donations.
What was stated in the petition
Narendra Kumar Goswami, one of the three petitioners, requested the apex court to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter.
He also sought an audit of the finances of the Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram temple, by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav filed a second petition seeking similar measures.
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A third petition filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, besides seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, demanded a forensic audit of the entire finances of the temple trust.
Earlier, a part-time task force headed by Justice BV Nagarathna had asked one of the petitioners to mention the case for urgent hearing later.
The petition, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, said a multi-disciplinary SIT headed by the CBI should probe the alleged financial irregularities and other alleged illegalities related to the affairs and management of the temple trust.
In his petition, Rai sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust to create and implement appropriate regulatory, monitoring and control systems to protect public interest and maintain the trust of millions of devotees and donors.
The plea said that regardless of whether the allegations of missing funds and other irregularities involving the Trust are ultimately proven to be true, such reports have caused considerable anxiety among those who have long worked to restore Ayodhya’s significance and heritage.
He further alleged that the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government had started its investigation into the matter even before the registration of the FIR or any formal criminal proceedings.
The petition argued that the issue goes beyond the alleged crimes as it also affects the faith, feelings and self-esteem of a large number of devotees and members of the public.
On 13 June, the Uttar Pradesh government set up an SIT at the request of the temple trust to investigate allegations of misappropriation of donations received for the Ram temple.
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.
