The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include a forensic auditor in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate allegations of embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana also directed the SIT to file a status report within two weeks and made it clear that it would continue to monitor the investigation to ensure transparency, accountability and a high-quality probe.
The Court passed these directions on a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged diversion and misappropriation of temple donations, a forensic audit of the Trust’s finances, and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh Government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that the State had already constituted an SIT headed by an Inspector General of Police, with a Deputy Inspector General and a Senior Superintendent of Police as members, to investigate the allegations. Accepting the Bench’s suggestion, he agreed that a forensic auditor would be associated with the SIT to examine the financial records.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat submitted that the investigation should include a comprehensive audit of donations received from devotees across the country and suggested that details of funds received by the Trust should be placed in the public domain to ensure transparency.
The Bench observed that the SIT would have unrestricted access to all relevant records required for the investigation. The Chief Justice clarified that the Court was not closing the proceedings and would continue to oversee the matter. He emphasised that the present priority was to ensure a speedy, impartial and qualitative investigation into the allegations relating to donation embezzlement, while issues concerning further remedial measures and transparency mechanisms would be considered after examining the SIT’s report.
The Court also noted that appropriate corrective measures could be considered after the investigation progresses and indicated that additional steps to strengthen financial transparency and institutional accountability may be examined at a later stage.
One of the petitioners suggested that a former Supreme Court judge be appointed to monitor the investigation. However, the Solicitor General opposed the proposal, submitting that such an arrangement was unnecessary as the proceedings were already being supervised by the Supreme Court. The Bench did not pass any direction on that request.
The petitions before the Court seek a CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations received for the construction of the Ram Mandir, a forensic audit of the Trust’s accounts, and directions for preservation of financial records, including bank statements, digital transaction logs, accounting records and other material evidence. Some petitioners have also sought publication of audited financial statements and donation records on the Trust’s official website in the interest of transparency.
The Court had earlier issued notice on the petitions and directed the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Government to apprise it of the progress of the investigation. It had also observed that the allegations concerning the Ram Mandir donations should not be politicised while emphasising that the probe must proceed strictly in accordance with law.
The matter will now be taken up after the SIT files its status report within two weeks.
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