The Supreme Court on Monday cautioned against politicising the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya while hearing petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into the matter. The bench also asked the Uttar Pradesh government whether the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which conducted the initial inquiry, could be reconstituted to continue the probe under the supervision of a senior officer.

The petitions before the court seek a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and audits of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram Temple. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the bench that a status report had been submitted and that eight people had been arrested in connection with the case. He told the court that he could not disclose further details at this stage of the investigation.

Chief Justice Surya Kant, heading the bench along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, sought clarification on the status of the investigation. Mehta explained that the SIT had initially examined the allegations and found that a cognisable offence had been committed. Following that preliminary inquiry, the case was transferred to the police for further investigation.

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The bench observed that the SIT could continue investigating the matter and asked whether it could be reconstituted with a senior officer to ensure a fair inquiry. The Chief Justice emphasised that the issue should not be turned into a political controversy and that the investigation must proceed without external influence. He stated that the court's focus was on ensuring a fair probe that reaches its logical conclusion.

After reviewing the status report, the Supreme Court said it would require three to four days to examine the documents in detail before issuing any directions. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 27, when the bench is expected to consider the next course of action after studying the investigation report submitted by the state government.

The alleged theft came to light after an FIR was registered on June 25. According to the investigation so far, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including Ramashankar Mishra, the former driver of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. Following the controversy, Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their respective positions in the trust.

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