File photo NEW DELHI: Virtually taking over supervision of the ongoing investigations into Ayodhya Ram mandir donation embezzlement controversy, Supreme Court on Monday asked the UP govt-constituted Special Investigation Team to submit its probe status report within a week.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana entertained four PILs which have sought independent and time-bound investigations into huge amounts donated by devotees being siphoned off, and audit of temple accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).Supreme Court seeks replies of Centre, UP government, Ram temple trustSupreme Court has sought responses from the Centre, UP govt and Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on temple donation embezzlement controversy.The bench said since an FIR has already been registered by the SIT constituted by UP govt, “We direct the SIT to submit a probe status report to the court”. The bench posted further hearing on July 20. UP govt had set up the SIT on June 13 following a complaint from the temple trust after allegations of misappropriation of temple donations went viral.The petitioners have also sought direction to Centre, UP govt and the trust to incorporate mandatory regulatory and supervisory audit mechanism in its functioning to ensure donations are neither siphoned off nor embezzled by unscrupulous elements, which hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.The three-member SIT, comprising Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IG Kiran S and special secretary (finance) Neel Ratan, has so far arrested eight accused, who are in judicial custody.The investigation reportedly found around 70 suspicious incidents between April 27 and June 5 after reviewing CCTV footage in which staff counting the money were seen concealing bundles of cash on their person.Following the controversy, trust general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra have stepped down. Their resignations were accepted by the trust on July 6. However, political parties such as Samajwadi Party and AAP have accused the UP govt of shielding the ‘big fish’.While petitioners Narendra Kumar Goswami, Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav sought CBI probe and audit of temple finances by CAG, Goswami sought safekeeping of electronic evidence, including CCTV footage.The third PIL by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh sought forensic audit of the finances of the temple, managed by the trust. Another PIL by Hindu Dharma Parishad has also sought similar reliefs.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’I Will Bow At Every Door’: Narottam Mishra Gets Emotional, Chokes Up At BJP’s Datia Bypoll Rally“Putin Pays Close Attention To PM Modi”: Poland Highlights India’s Global Power Amid Global CrisesBengal Government Backs Airport Mosque Relocation, Cites Security And Runway Expansion NeedsSuvendu Govt Replaces Mamata’s ‘Khela Hobey Divas’ With ‘Ayushman Divas’Man Claiming To Be Ex-US Navy Officer Held At India-Nepal Border Without Travel Documents’I Am Not Gandhiji’: Kerala Double Murder Convict Shows No Remorse In CourtUS Inmate Matthew Aaron VanDyke Seeks Special Diet, Cooking Permission Inside Tihar JailMission $500 Billion: India, US Push To Deepen Trade Ties As Deal Nears CompletionMission $500 Billion: India, US Push To Deepen Trade Ties As Deal Nears CompletionCDS To Present Theatre Command Roadmap As India Moves Closer To Military Reforms123PhotostoriesFrom opening up about problems in their married life and his battle with anxiety to Yuvika’s emotional breakdown: Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary get candid5 signs you’re not in love; it’s obsessionWhy you can still cringe over something you said 10 years ago… but forget why you walked into the kitchen just seconds laterJanhvi Kapoor’s 24K gold corset to black embroidered lehenga is wedding guest fashion at its boldest10 beautiful baby names that symbolise new life and fresh beginningsAkshay Kumar’s go-to high-protein snack at 58 is packed with fiber and contains no chilliJuly New Moon 2026: Affirmations for your birth dateDo your knees hurt before it rains? Here’s why osteoarthritis pain gets worse during the monsoon, according to doctorsPigeons taking over your balcony? 7 Humane ways to keep them away without causing harmFrom grey saree elegance to embroidered sharara glam: Alia Bhatt masters two bridesmaid looks at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding123Hot PicksWWE Raw PreviewRajasthan PG admissionsSouth China SeaITR filingNepal protestLucknow-Kanpur ExpresswayEPFO amnesty schemeTaylor Swift and Travis KelceE20 petrol newsTop TrendingSamantha BuschMadurai AccidentITR filingFIFA World Cup 2026Karnataka Pakistani ArrestedGhaziabad Mall Rape MurderDelhi MurderTG TET 2026 resultGurgaon EncounterIran war
NEW DELHI: Virtually taking over supervision of the ongoing investigations into Ayodhya Ram mandir donation embezzlement controversy, Supreme Court on Monday asked the UP govt-constituted Special Investigation Team to submit its probe status report within a week.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana entertained four PILs which have sought independent and time-bound investigations into huge amounts donated by devotees being siphoned off, and audit of temple accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Supreme Court seeks replies of Centre, UP government, Ram temple trust
Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre, UP govt and Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on temple donation embezzlement controversy.The bench said since an FIR has already been registered by the SIT constituted by UP govt, “We direct the SIT to submit a probe status report to the court”. The bench posted further hearing on July 20. UP govt had set up the SIT on June 13 following a complaint from the temple trust after allegations of misappropriation of temple donations went viral.The petitioners have also sought direction to Centre, UP govt and the trust to incorporate mandatory regulatory and supervisory audit mechanism in its functioning to ensure donations are neither siphoned off nor embezzled by unscrupulous elements, which hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.The three-member SIT, comprising Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IG Kiran S and special secretary (finance) Neel Ratan, has so far arrested eight accused, who are in judicial custody.The investigation reportedly found around 70 suspicious incidents between April 27 and June 5 after reviewing CCTV footage in which staff counting the money were seen concealing bundles of cash on their person.Following the controversy, trust general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra have stepped down. Their resignations were accepted by the trust on July 6. However, political parties such as Samajwadi Party and AAP have accused the UP govt of shielding the ‘big fish’.While petitioners Narendra Kumar Goswami, Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav sought CBI probe and audit of temple finances by CAG, Goswami sought safekeeping of electronic evidence, including CCTV footage.The third PIL by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh sought forensic audit of the finances of the temple, managed by the trust. Another PIL by Hindu Dharma Parishad has also sought similar reliefs.
