New Delhi, 13 July (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a status report on its probe into allegations of embezzlement of donation funds at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan, also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the management and administration of the Ram temple, seeking its response to petitions calling for a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.

The matter came before the apex court through multiple petitions that questioned the handling of donations received by the temple trust. The petitioners urged the court to ensure an independent inquiry into the allegations to maintain public confidence in the management of funds contributed by devotees.

One of the petitioners, Narendra Kumar Goswami, sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of donations. He also requested the court to direct the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to conduct an audit of the accounts and financial records of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

During the hearing on Monday, the Bench asked the Uttar Pradesh SIT to place its latest findings before the court through a status report. The judges also sought the Trust's response to the allegations raised in the petitions before proceeding further with the matter.

The petitions contend that an impartial investigation is necessary in view of the public nature of the donations and the significance of the Ram temple as a major religious institution attracting contributions from devotees across India and abroad.

The Supreme Court did not express any opinion on the merits of the allegations during the hearing. Instead, it sought updates on the ongoing investigation and directed the concerned parties to assist the court in the adjudication of the matter.

The case is expected to come up for further hearing after the SIT submits its status report and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust files its response before the apex court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar