The Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Uttar Pradesh government has submitted a status report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court. The report is related to petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into alleged financial irregularities involving the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The petitions are set to be heard by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on July 20.
The petitions include various filings by individuals and groups such as advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner-in-person Ajay Kumar Rai, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, and Hindu Dharma Parishad. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the SIT to provide a detailed status report, including information on the composition of the team, in response to the petitions.
During a previous hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the SIT’s report would be submitted in a sealed cover due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. The petitioners had requested a copy of the report, but this was opposed by Mehta citing the ongoing nature of the probe. The Court declined the request, emphasizing that the investigation was still in progress.
The petitions primarily focus on investigating alleged financial irregularities in the management of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami’s plea emphasizes the need for record preservation and transparency in the administration of temple donations. RJD MP Sudhakar Singh’s petition, on the other hand, calls for transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, among other requests.
