The Supreme Court of India on Monday formally closed its monitoring of the investigation into alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The decision followed an update from the Uttar Pradesh government, which informed the bench that a charge sheet had been filed against eight accused persons in the matter. With the investigation phase concluded, the court directed the judicial magistrate in Ayodhya to proceed with the trial in accordance with the law.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana presided over the hearing. During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, confirmed that the investigation had successfully accounted for all artifacts and donations. He stated that the investigation included a comprehensive audit and the tracing of financial activities linked to the accused, including bank account details and property purchases.
The charge sheet, which comprises over 60,000 pages, was submitted to the anti-corruption court in Ayodhya this past September. According to information shared with the bench, the investigation identified 105 specific instances where cash was allegedly removed or concealed without authorization by individuals responsible for counting the donations collected at the temple premises. The court noted that while standard security recordings are typically retained for 45 days, investigators were able to reconstruct the sequence of events through extensive forensic and financial tracing.
In its order disposing of the writ petition, the Supreme Court clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations, ensuring that the judicial process remains impartial. Recognizing the significant public interest surrounding the temple, the bench granted the petitioners liberty to assist the judicial magistrate during the upcoming trial, noting that existing legal provisions allow victims or interested parties to support the court in such proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s oversight of this case began in July, when it established a second special investigation team (SIT). This team, led by Lucknow range Inspector General of Police Kiran S, was tasked with investigating the allegations of pilferage and irregularities regarding the handling of valuables within the temple complex. The court's decision to now step back signifies its satisfaction with the progress of the official investigation and the transition of the matter into the formal judicial trial phase.
During the same hearing, the bench addressed a separate plea filed by the Ram Janmabhoomi Case Trust. The trust had requested court intervention to conduct a fresh, technically qualified survey to verify whether the current temple structure occupies the precise premises designated in the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment. The trust sought the production of various revenue, cadastral, and survey records to support their inquiry.
The bench, however, declined to entertain this specific request, informing the representatives of the trust that they are free to approach a civil court if they wish to pursue those prayers. By directing the trust to the appropriate civil forum, the Supreme Court maintained a focus on the specific criminal matter at hand, while ensuring that all parties were directed to the correct legal channels for their respective grievances.
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