UP SIT Set to File Chargesheet in Ayodhya Donation Investigation

The Supreme Court of India was informed that the court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), tasked with probing alleged embezzlement related to donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, will file its first chargesheet by or before September 25. The court previously directed that the SIT, organised by the Uttar Pradesh government, should include a forensic auditor to investigate the claims of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.

Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, reviewed a detailed report from the SIT, which was submitted in a sealed cover. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted the urgency of the matter, stating that the statutory 90-day period from the first arrest in the case would lapse shortly. He stated, “Ninety days from the date of the first arrest are going to be over on September 25. We will have to file the chargesheet; otherwise, they will get default bail.”

The Supreme Court has previously urged the SIT to expedite its investigation and to ensure a thorough conclusion. It has also requested the Uttar Pradesh government to clarify whether the SIT could independently oversee the investigation, instead of the local police.

Allegations regarding financial irregularities surfaced earlier this month when opposition politicians and whistleblowers claimed significant financial discrepancies. Initial estimates suggested potential misappropriations ranged between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore, with political statements later escalating concerns that the embezzlement could reach as high as ₹200 crore.

In response to these allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government established a state-level SIT on June 13 to investigate the finances involved. One of the petitioners, Narendra Kumar Goswami, approached the Supreme Court requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. He also advocated for a financial audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple's operations.

Additional petitions followed, including one from Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, which called for measures similar to Goswami's requests. Meanwhile, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh filed a third petition advocating for a forensic audit of the temple trust’s finances, as well as a CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT to investigate the alleged financial irregularities.

The petition from Rai urged the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government to establish regulations and auditing mechanisms to protect public interests and maintain the trust of the temple’s devotees and donors.

Earlier hearings had seen the Allahabad High Court deny an urgent review of a plea requesting an inquiry into the alleged financial mismanagement at the Ram Temple, stating there was no immediate need. Following the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government had initiated the SIT's formation on June 13, as requested by the temple trust. The SIT includes key officials such as the Lucknow Divisional Commissioner, Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and the Finance Department's Special Secretary Neel Ratan.

Additionally, the Court recently declined a request from the Nirmohi Akhara to have the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reconstituted. This ongoing inquiry emerges within a context where public scrutiny regarding financial handling at significant religious sites continues to attract considerable attention.

The significant legal proceedings surrounding the scrutiny of temple finances are encapsulated under the following case titles: Ajay Kumar Rai v. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and Ors. [W.P.(Crl.) No. 241/2026] and Narender Kumar Goswami v. Union of India and Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 790/2026].