SIT likely to submit interim report on Ram temple donation probe to SC on Monday
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple is likely to submit an interim status report to the Supreme
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple is likely to submit an interim status report to the Supreme Court on Monday in compliance with the court's directions, sources said on Friday. According to sources, the SIT is also expected to seek additional time from the Uttar Pradesh government to complete its investigation into the financial irregularities involving donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Read Full Story The development comes days after the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions seeking a fair and time-bound investigation into the embezzlement, directed the SIT to place a status report on record.
The three-member SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 at the request of the temple trust. It comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. The panel was initially given 15 days to complete its probe, a deadline that was later extended by another 15 days. The SIT had submitted a preliminary nine-page report to the state government on June 23, following which an FIR was registered and eight people were arrested.
Investigators also recovered cash siphoned off from temple donations, while former trust general secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their positions. Sources said the final report is expected to recommend reforms in the temple's administrative functioning and donation-counting mechanism. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to meet in Ayodhya on July 22 to discuss the findings and consider corrective measures. The Supreme Court is hearing petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation, a forensic audit and a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the trust's finances.
The petitioners have also questioned how the SIT commenced its inquiry before an FIR was registered and have sought a time-bound investigation into the financial irregularities. The case now centres on the SIT's forthcoming interim report, its likely request for more time to complete the probe, and the Supreme Court's continued oversight of the investigation. Ends
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