SC allows public suggestions in Ram Mandir donation theft probe

The Supreme Court on Monday permitted petitioners and public-spirited individuals to submit suggestions to the Solicitor General's office on aspects the Special Investigation Team (SIT) should probe regarding alleged theft of donations to the Ram Mandir trust in Ayodhya. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the suggestions would be forwarded to the SIT for objective consideration. The court also ordered the SIT to submit a status report in a sealed cover.

The bench refused to link the investigation to the original Ramjanmabhoomi title dispute, which was disposed of in 2019. Deccan Herald reports that the court declined to entertain an application by Nirmohi Akhara seeking to convert the trust into a public trust, saying it was a separate matter. Hindustan Times adds that the court made clear its monitoring was confined to the investigation and had nothing to do with the main case.

The SIT, which includes a forensic auditor, was constituted by the court on July 27. Allegations surfaced in June over suspected siphoning of donations before they were deposited into designated bank accounts. Eight accused have been arrested and nearly Rs 80 lakh allegedly diverted from temple donations recovered, according to earlier proceedings. The matter has been posted for further consideration after three weeks.