The Supreme Court on Monday sought a detailed status report from the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, indicating that it could issue further directions after reviewing the progress of the investigation.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, was hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving the Trust that manages the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
During the hearing, the Bench directed the Uttar Pradesh government to disclose the composition of the SIT and submit an update on the investigation. "We would like to know who the members of the SIT are. File a status report. After seeing the report, we may issue some additional directions," the Bench observed. The court also issued notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, holding that its response would be necessary before any further orders could be considered.
Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, assisted by Senior Additional Advocate General Sharan Dev Singh Thakur, informed the court that the investigation was progressing.
The proceedings come amid an ongoing police investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. According to submissions before the court, eight persons are currently in custody following an FIR registered on the basis of the SIT's preliminary findings.
The petitions before the apex court seek an independent probe into the alleged financial irregularities and greater transparency in the Trust's financial affairs. One of the petitions, filed by petitioner-in-person Narendra Kumar Goswami, seeks a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged scam, along with an audit of the Trust's finances by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Another plea, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who are also appearing in person, seeks the registration of an FIR and a fair, independent and time-bound CBI investigation into the alleged diversion of donations received by the temple.
A third petition, moved by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh, has sought a court-monitored CBI investigation together with a comprehensive forensic audit of the Trust's financial records. Sudhakar Singh has also requested the Supreme Court to direct an independent forensic examination of all donations, financial transactions and assets linked to the Trust. His plea further seeks preservation of all financial records—including physical documents, digital ledgers, UPI transaction logs and bank statements, to prevent any alleged tampering with evidence during the course of the investigation.
In addition, the petition urges the court to establish a judicially supervised oversight mechanism to monitor the investigation. Pending completion of the probe, it seeks restrictions on the Trust from taking major financial or administrative decisions, including awarding substantial contracts, making investments, utilising Trust funds, creating third-party rights or transferring assets without prior approval from the proposed oversight committee.
The petition also calls upon the Trust to furnish before the Supreme Court a comprehensive account of all donations received since its formation. This includes cash contributions, bank transfers, digital payments, foreign donations and contributions in kind, such as gold, silver and other valuables, along with details of their accounting, custody and utilisation.
Further, the plea seeks directions requiring the Trust to publish its audited financial statements, donation records and details of fund utilisation on its official website in the interest of transparency, while ensuring that confidential donor information remains protected wherever necessary. The matter is expected to be taken up again after the Uttar Pradesh government files the status report sought by the Supreme Court.
