The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include an independent forensic auditor in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
Hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities in the affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the nature of the investigation involves alleged misappropriation of trust funds and requires forensic expertise. The Bench also directed the SIT to submit a status report on the progress of the investigation within two weeks.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the Bench that a four-member SIT headed by Inspector General of Police Kiran S. had been constituted to investigate the alleged embezzlement. The U.P. government has included Inspector General of Police (Ayodhya Range) Somen Barma and Senior Superintendent of Police (Ayodhya) Gaurav Grover as members in the reconstituted SIT. The Chief Justice then said that an “eminent, independent” chartered accountant with expertise in forensic auditing be included in the investigation team, to which Mr. Mehta agreed.
Senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, appearing for one of the petitioners, urged the Bench to direct the Trust to upload details of all donation receipts on its website to ensure transparency. The Bench, however, declined to issue such a direction at this stage, observing that the SIT should first be allowed to complete its investigation. It instead asked Mr. Kamat to place his suggestions on record so that appropriate directions could be considered at a later stage, if necessary.
The court also rejected a request that the SIT investigation be monitored by a retired judge, saying another layer through a retired judge is not needed as the Bench itself is monitoring the probe. The matter has been posted for further hearing after two weeks.
Several petitions have been filed in the case, including one by petitioner-in-person Narendra Kumar Goswami seeking a CBI probe along with an audit of the Trust’s finances by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Another petition, moved by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, seeks a court-supervised CBI probe along with a comprehensive forensic audit of the finances of the temple Trust.
Supreme Court directs inclusion of independent forensic auditor in SIT probing Ayodhya Ram temple donation row; status report sought in two weeks.
When faith meets finance, transparency becomes the first duty.
