Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Case: SIT Files Chargesheet, UP Government Informs Supreme Court
Uttar Pradesh government tells the top court that temple donations were misappropriated during counting; petitioners allowed to assist the trial proceedings in the local court.
NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The Supreme Court on Monday took note of the Uttar Pradesh government’s submission that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a chargesheet in the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court subsequently disposed of petitions seeking an independent investigation, observing that the trial would proceed before the competent local court.
Appearing on behalf of the state government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that the SIT investigation had uncovered alleged misappropriation of temple donations during the counting process.
Mehta submitted that some of the accused had allegedly used the misappropriated funds to purchase properties, while others had deposited the money in bank accounts.
Taking note of the government’s submissions, the bench allowed the petitioners, who had approached the apex court seeking an independent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, to assist the local court in Ayodhya during the trial.
The Supreme Court disposed of the petitions while making it clear that its order should not be interpreted as expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations or the evidence in the case.
The court’s decision leaves the matter to be examined through the regular judicial process, where the allegations against the accused will be considered in accordance with the law.
Separately, the apex court declined to entertain a fresh petition seeking a determination on whether the Ram temple stands on the same land that was adjudicated in the main Ayodhya title dispute.
The development follows an earlier hearing on September 21, when the SIT appointed to investigate the alleged diversion of donations informed the Supreme Court that it intended to submit its first chargesheet by September 25.
The latest submission by the Uttar Pradesh government marks an important development in the investigation, which concerns allegations of financial irregularities involving donations collected at one of the country’s most prominent religious sites.
With the Supreme Court disposing of the petitions, further proceedings will now take place before the local court in Ayodhya, where the evidence gathered by the investigating agency will be examined.
