New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday warned all parties against politicising the investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations received by
the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana suggested that the three-member special investigation team that first found prima facie evidence should supervise the ongoing police probe.
The court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to seek instructions on reconstituting the SIT. It will hear the matter again on July 27 and review the investigation’s progress.
‘Don’t play politics’
“Don’t play politics…Don’t politicise the issue. It is a simple and prima facie case of commission of an offence and investigations have to be taken to their logical end in a fair, impartial and dispassionate manner,” the bench said.
The court heard petitions seeking an independent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities involving the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, said police had arrested eight people. He also said authorities had submitted a status report in a sealed cover.
SIT supervision proposed
Mehta told the court that the SIT had completed its preliminary inquiry and the local police now handled the criminal investigation.
The bench suggested that the senior officials who conducted the initial inquiry should supervise the police probe. The SIT included Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary for Finance Neel Ratan.
Mehta said the state would consider the suggestion and respond at the next hearing.
Authorities formed the SIT on June 13 at the Trust’s request. It submitted its preliminary report on June 23. Ayodhya Police then registered an FIR against eight people accused of diverting donations during the counting process.
Police arrested all eight accused and recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh allegedly diverted from temple offerings.
Court seeks proper records
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, who represented RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, asked the court to direct the Trust to publish records of donations received against official receipts. The bench said: “Not only on the website… There must be a well-maintained record.”
Kamat also sought a public inventory of donated gold, silver and other valuables. The court said authorities must maintain proper records wherever they issued receipts.
Mehta said the state supported steps to improve transparency and that authorities already preserved inventories of valuables.
