A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was dealing with a bunch of petitions seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the allegations of embezzlement of donations received for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and audit of the temple Trust finances.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, for the State of UP, told the Court that a SIT headed by S Kiran IPS, Lucknow IG, and comprising a Dy Inspector General and a Senior Superintendent of Police has been constituted.

The SG accepted the suggestion made by the bench that a forensic auditor be associated with the SIT. Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing in one of the petitions, submitted that the SIT must audit the receipts of donations received from across the country for the Ram Mandir construction. "People have given 500 rupees 1000 rupees. Ultimately, there are reports that the money has not reached the Trust. Whatever the Trust got may be showed on a website so that people will know that there money has reached."

The CJI said that the SIT will have access to all records.

"Let SIT give its report. We are not closing this. Remedial actions will have to be taken. You can note down one some steps which have to be taken to ensure transparency. There are senior officers, a forensic auditor shall be there..."CJI said. Kamat proposed that a former Supreme Court Judge should be appointed the monitor the investigation. The SG said that such a direction may not be necessary since the present bench of three judges is overseeing the SIT probe.

The CJI said that the present focus is on a speedy and qualitative investigation. "Right now you all note down the issues. Right now our entire focus is on investigation. We must have a speedy and qualitative investigation. We are asking them to submit a report to us. The rest we will decide at a later stage," the CJI said.

Background

One of the petitions was filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner-in-person, seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter. He also seeks an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of the finances of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, the trust which is managing the Ayodhya Ram temple.

The second petition was filed by Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, also petitioners-in-person, seeking similar direction for CBI probe. The petition seeks directions to the Union Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to take appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of devotees and donors.

It states that irrespective of whether the allegations of missing funds and other irregularities are ultimately substantiated, the reports have caused widespread concern among those who contributed to or supported the Ram Mandir movement.

The third petition was filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh who seeks a forensic audit of the entire finances of the temple trust in the light of the scam, in addition to CBI probe under the monitoring of the Supreme Court. The PIL requests directions to preserve all financial records, including physical documents, digital ledgers, UPI transaction logs and bank statements, to prevent any alleged tampering with evidence.

The petitioner has further sought an order restraining the Trust from undertaking major investments, entering into substantial contracts or taking significant financial decisions without the prior approval of the proposed Oversight Committee. The plea also seeks a comprehensive forensic audit of all donations, transactions and assets of the Trust by an independent agency.

It further requests that the Trust be directed to publish audited financial statements and donation records on its official website in the interest of public transparency.

The plea requests that, pending completion of the investigation, no major financial or administrative decision involving utilisation of Trust funds, award of substantial contracts, creation of third-party rights, alienation of Trust assets, investments or other significant financial commitments be undertaken except with the approval of the proposed Court-monitored Oversight Committee.

Additionally, the petition seeks a comprehensive forensic audit of the Trust's accounts, donations, offerings, bank transactions and financial records by an independent agency of unquestionable credibility, with the audit report to be placed before the Supreme Court.

The PIL also asks the Court to direct the Trust to maintain complete transparency by publishing audited financial statements, details of donations received, utilisation of funds and other financial information on its official website, while protecting confidential or sensitive donor information where necessary.

Further, the petitioner has sought a direction requiring the Trust to place before the Court a complete statement of all donations and contributions received since its constitution, including cash donations, bank transfers, digital payments, foreign contributions, donations in kind, gold, silver and other valuables, along with details regarding their accounting, custody and utilisation.

A fourth petition has been filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad, seeking a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations pertaining to the Ram Mandir donations.

Petitions seeking high-level probes were also filed before the Allahabad High Court, but it refused to entertain them to avoid parallel proceedings before itself and the Supreme Court. The Uttar Pradesh police has registered an FIR following an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the State Government.

Recently, the Nirmohi Akhara moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to restructure the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust as a public trust, contending that as presently constituted, it is inconsistent with the spirit of the Supreme Court's 2019 Ayodhya judgment and lacks adequate accountability.

Cases: Narendra Kumar Goswami v. Union of India and others | WP(c) 790/2026; Ajay Kumar Rai and another v. Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust | WP(Crl) 241/2026; Sudhakar Singh v. Union of India and others | WP (Crl) 256/2026; Hindu Dharma Parishad v. The Union Of India And Ors. | WP(C) No. 827/2026