The Supreme Court on 17 August 2026 directed the SIT to finish its inquiry into alleged misappropriation of donations to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The bench also allowed any "bona‑fide" person to approach the Solicitor General of India with suggestions, which would be objectively considered and passed to the SIT.
Key Developments
- Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the SIT must take the probe to its "logical conclusion" and warned the court would intervene only if the SIT’s work is unsatisfactory.
- The court rejected demands for a fresh CBI probe, stating the SIT is sufficient.
- Petitioners sought full disclosure of donation details – cash, digital, foreign contributions, gold, silver – and protection of electronic evidence such as CCTV footage.
- The bench noted the inclusion of a forensic auditor in the SIT to examine the Trust’s accounts.
- Nirmohi Akhara asked the court to restructure the Trust into a public trust, citing lack of accountability.
Important Facts
The SIT, constituted on 25 July 2026, is chaired by Kiran S., IG Lucknow, with members Somen Barma (DIG Ayodhya), Gaurav Grover (SSP Ayodhya), and Ritesh Kumar Singh (ASP Barabanki). The court highlighted that the First Investigation Report (FIR) has not been made public, prompting petitions for transparency.
Exam Relevance
This case touches upon several GS topics: the functioning of the Supreme Court and its power to supervise investigations (GS2); the role of SITs in high‑profile corruption cases (GS3); accountability mechanisms for religious trusts and the importance of financial transparency (GS3); and the interplay between the judiciary, executive (state government), and law officers like the Solicitor General (GS2).
Way Forward
The SIT is expected to submit a comprehensive report covering all categories of donations and the audit findings. Any further suggestions from petitioners will be vetted by the SG’s office before being relayed to the SIT. The court has kept the door open for intervention should the investigation fall short, ensuring judicial oversight while respecting the investigative autonomy of the SIT.