NEW DELHI—The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought an updated status report on the investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, while stressing that the criminal inquiry should proceed without political interference and under effective supervision.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant reviewed petitions seeking an independent investigation into allegations that cash and valuables donated by devotees were diverted from the temple's donation collection system. The court examined the progress of the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government and considered further steps to strengthen oversight of the investigation.
During the hearing, the bench reiterated that the matter should be treated as a criminal investigation rather than a political issue, observing that the court's priority was to ensure a proper and impartial inquiry into the allegations. It also directed that records relating to temple donations be preserved to facilitate the investigation.
The petitions before the court seek a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, arguing that the alleged financial irregularities warrant an independent probe. The Uttar Pradesh government has opposed transferring the investigation, saying the SIT is already examining the allegations and has submitted progress reports to the court.
The case concerns allegations of embezzlement involving offerings made by devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the temple. The Trust has been issued notice in the proceedings and is among the respondents asked to present its position before the court. The allegations remain under investigation, and no judicial findings have established criminal liability.
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT after the allegations surfaced and later extended its tenure to allow investigators to continue examining donation records and question individuals connected with the temple's donation management system. According to official submissions, the probe remains ongoing.
The Supreme Court said it would continue monitoring developments in the case and directed authorities to keep the investigation on course while maintaining transparency and accountability. The matter has been listed for further hearing after the court receives the latest report from the SIT.
