The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Uttar Pradesh to file a complete status report on its probe into alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
A three‑judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, stressing that its response is essential before further judicial directions.
The order comes amid an ongoing police investigation in which eight individuals have been arrested following a preliminary charge sheet. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that the probe was progressing aggressively, but the Court insisted on evaluating the SIT’s efficiency firsthand. “We would like to know who the members of the SIT are. File a status report. After seeing the report, we may issue some additional directions,” observed the Chief Justice.
The Court is hearing multiple public interest litigations (PILs) demanding stronger oversight. Petitioners have sought a CBI‑led investigation, statutory audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), forensic audits of assets, and safeguards such as freezing Trust properties, preserving financial records, and publishing audited statements online.
By demanding the SIT’s roster and progress logs, the Supreme Court has signalled that the financial management of India’s most prominent temple trust will remain under intense judicial scrutiny.
