Supreme Court Seeks Sealed SIT Report in Ram Temple Donation Misappropriation Case

The Supreme Court has sought a sealed status report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations of misappropriation and theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

A three judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohan heard petitions raising serious allegations regarding the handling of donations and offerings made by devotees at the temple. The court issued notices to the Central government, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple.

The Bench directed the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to submit its investigation status report in a sealed cover. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 20.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, requested the court not to issue a notice to the temple trust at this stage. However, the Supreme Court rejected the request and directed the trust to respond to the allegations.

Lawyers representing the petitioners urged the court to ensure that CCTV footage and other digital evidence from the temple premises are preserved to prevent any tampering with potential evidence. They also sought a copy of the SIT’s status report, but the court declined the request for now, observing that the investigation is still at a sensitive and preliminary stage.

The case was brought before the Supreme Court through criminal writ petitions filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, Ajay Kumar Rai, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Sudhakar Singh, and others. The petitioners have alleged large scale misappropriation of donations and offerings received at the Ram Temple and have sought an independent and transparent investigation into the matter.

The petitions were earlier mentioned before a vacation Bench, which declined urgent hearing and directed that they be listed for regular consideration. Formal proceedings have now commenced before the regular Bench.

The case has drawn widespread public and political attention because of the religious significance of the Ram Temple and the large volume of donations it receives from devotees across the country. Opposition parties have also raised questions over the allegations, while the temple trust has so far maintained a cautious stance and has not issued a detailed response.

The hearing scheduled for July 20 is expected to be crucial, as the Supreme Court will examine the SIT’s confidential report before deciding whether the ongoing investigation is sufficient or whether the case should be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation or another independent agency.