SC seeks Ram Mandir donation theft report, to hear CBI probe plea next week
The case concerns the theft of cash and valuables donated at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, with the Supreme Court directing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to report on its probe's progress.
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a status report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and said it would hear next week a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the matter.
A bench led by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The court also directed the SIT, constituted by the UP government, to submit a status report detailing the progress of the investigation along with the composition of the probe team.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General opposed the issuance of a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. However, the bench proceeded to issue a notice to the trust as well.
The Chief Justice observed that since an SIT had already been constituted and the investigation was underway, the court wanted to examine the progress made so far before considering further reliefs sought by the petitioners.
The Solicitor General informed the court that the status report would be filed in a sealed cover. When the petitioners sought a copy of the report, the Solicitor General opposed the request. The Chief Justice remarked, "You know the law... Eventually they will see the report".
The bench also made a light-hearted remark during the proceedings, telling one of the lawyers, "You don't need to shout here because you need to preserve your voice for outside".
The matter has been posted for further hearing next Monday.
RAM MANDIR DONATION THEFT
The case relates to the misappropriation of cash and valuables donated by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In response to the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team on June 13 under the chairmanship of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant.
The SIT submitted its preliminary findings to the state government on June 23. At the time, Pant said the investigation would continue before a final report was submitted. The state government subsequently extended the SIT's tenure by 15 days on July 1 to enable it to complete the probe.
According to official sources, the SIT is expected to revisit Ayodhya to scrutinise records related to donations and question individuals associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and others linked to the temple's donation management system as part of its ongoing investigation.
The matter has been posted for further hearing next Monday.
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a status report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and said it would hear next week a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the matter.
A bench led by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, issued notices to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The court also directed the SIT, constituted by the UP government, to submit a status report detailing the progress of the investigation along with the composition of the probe team.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General opposed the issuance of a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. However, the bench proceeded to issue a notice to the trust as well.
The Chief Justice observed that since an SIT had already been constituted and the investigation was underway, the court wanted to examine the progress made so far before considering further reliefs sought by the petitioners.
The Solicitor General informed the court that the status report would be filed in a sealed cover. When the petitioners sought a copy of the report, the Solicitor General opposed the request. The Chief Justice remarked, "You know the law... Eventually they will see the report".
The bench also made a light-hearted remark during the proceedings, telling one of the lawyers, "You don't need to shout here because you need to preserve your voice for outside".
The matter has been posted for further hearing next Monday.
RAM MANDIR DONATION THEFT
The case relates to the misappropriation of cash and valuables donated by devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In response to the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team on June 13 under the chairmanship of Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant.
The SIT submitted its preliminary findings to the state government on June 23. At the time, Pant said the investigation would continue before a final report was submitted. The state government subsequently extended the SIT's tenure by 15 days on July 1 to enable it to complete the probe.
According to official sources, the SIT is expected to revisit Ayodhya to scrutinise records related to donations and question individuals associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and others linked to the temple's donation management system as part of its ongoing investigation.
The matter has been posted for further hearing next Monday.
