Supreme Court Closes Ram Mandir Donation Theft Petitions After Charge Sheet Is Filed

The Supreme Court of India on Monday closed a set of petitions that had sought a court-monitored investigation into alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya. The court acted after the Uttar Pradesh government told it that a charge sheet had been filed in the case.

What the bench ordered

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, asked the concerned Judicial Magistrate to take the case forward in accordance with law. The bench allowed the petitioners to assist the trial proceedings because the matter involved public interest, on the same basis as a victim of crime may assist a court.

The bench said, in words quoted by Verdictum: "The State of UP has filed this status report, according to which the chargesheet has now been filed in the matter. In view of the matter, keeping this in view, disposal of this petition and other connected matters with a direction to the learned Judicial Magistrate to proceed in the matter in accordance with law."

The court made clear that it had expressed no view on the truth or merits of the allegations. The allegations themselves were not decided by the bench on Monday.

What the investigation reported

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, told the bench that the charge sheet had been filed after an investigation found that thefts occurred while donations and offerings were being counted at the temple. He said accused persons used the money to buy property or deposited it in bank accounts.

Bar and Bench reported that CCTV footage showed 105 incidents of theft at the temple, and that the Special Investigation Team reported unauthorised currency removal and suspicious deposits linked to eight accused.

Who sought a monitored probe

The petitions were filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner in person Ajay Kumar Rai, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and the Hindu Dharma Parishad. They had sought a CBI or court-monitored probe, preservation of donation records, transparency in the handling of donations and a forensic audit.

The earlier order and a second petition

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the state to reconstitute the Special Investigation Team to ensure a fair, speedy and effective investigation. The reconstituted team was headed by Inspector General of Police Kiran S., with DIG Ayodhya Somen Verma and SSP Ayodhya Gaurav Grover as members, and a forensic auditor was associated with the investigation.

The court also declined to entertain a fresh petition that sought a determination of whether the Ram temple is situated on the land adjudicated in the principal Ayodhya title dispute.