New Delhi, 27 July (H.S.): A new Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe alleged irregularities in offerings and donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya following an order by the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant about the development. The Supreme Court also directed that a forensic auditor be included in the investigation team.

The court directed the SIT to submit a status report on the investigation. During the hearing, Mehta informed the court that the Uttar Pradesh government had constituted an SIT headed by Lucknow-based IPS officer Kiran. The court then directed that a forensic auditor should also be made part of the SIT, to which Mehta agreed.

During the hearing, senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for the petitioner, argued that donations collected from across the country for the construction of the Ram Temple should be audited and details regarding the utilisation of funds received by the trust should be made public to ensure transparency for devotees and donors.

The Supreme Court had issued notices to the trust and the Uttar Pradesh government on July 13 and sought records related to the formation of the SIT. The petition has been filed by two lawyers, Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav. The petition seeks directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to establish a mechanism to prevent financial irregularities, stating that the matter is linked to the sentiments of millions of devotees.

The petition stated that whether reports of alleged donation theft are true or false, such reports have hurt the faith of people who contributed and struggled for the glory of Ayodhya. It sought an independent investigation into the alleged missing funds and other irregularities. The petitioners argued that the probe should be conducted by an agency having the required expertise to investigate complex financial and criminal matters.

Earlier, another lawyer had written a letter to the Supreme Court seeking suo motu cognisance and an inquiry into the matter. Advocate Anoop Awasthi, in his letter to the Supreme Court, stated that the issue is connected with the faith of millions of people across the country. The letter requested that the investigation be conducted under the monitoring of the court.

The letter further stated that the temple is being managed by the trust formed after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. The consecration ceremony of the temple was held on January 22, 2024. Since then, a large number of devotees have been visiting the temple every day and making offerings at the temple donation boxes.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar