The Supreme Court of India has formally closed a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya. The decision to conclude the matter before the apex court comes after the Uttar Pradesh government confirmed that a comprehensive chargesheet has been filed before the competent local judicial authority, marking the transition of the case from an investigative phase to active trial proceedings.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana observed that the state’s investigative efforts, spearheaded by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), have reached a stage where the intervention of the highest court is no longer necessary. In its order, the Supreme Court directed the relevant Judicial Magistrate in Ayodhya to proceed with the case in accordance with the law, ensuring the trial process continues without further oversight from the apex court.

"State of UP has filed a status report, according to which, the chargesheet has now been filed in the matter. Keeping this in view, we dispose of this writ petition and other connected matters with a direction to the ld. Judicial Magistrate to proceed in the matter in accordance with law," the bench noted in its order. To maintain transparency and uphold the public interest inherent in the case, the Court further granted the original petitioners the liberty to assist the Magistrate during trial proceedings, utilizing the same legal provisions that allow victims of crime to participate in the adjudication of their cases. The Court explicitly clarified that its decision to dispose of the petitions does not constitute a finding on the merits of the allegations , ensuring no prejudice is caused to the parties involved.

Tracking the Financial Trail

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, provided detailed insights into the methodologies employed by the SIT to uncover the alleged financial irregularities. He informed the bench that the investigation concluded that theft primarily occurred during the counting process within the temple premises. The accused, described as individuals responsible for handling and counting donations, allegedly exploited gaps in the surveillance system—specifically noting that CCTV footage was limited due to auto-erase technology—to facilitate the misappropriation.

To overcome the evidentiary challenges posed by the lack of long-term digital surveillance, investigators adopted a forensic approach, tracing the flow of funds backward from bank accounts and asset acquisitions. The investigation revealed that the accused individuals had funneled misappropriated cash into personal bank accounts or invested in real estate to obscure the source of wealth.

"The individuals who were counting have taken the money. The CCTV footage is only available for 45 days, otherwise, it is auto-erase technology. But we went backwards. What they used to do was they would take the money and invest somewhere or deposit in the bank account. So, we checked the bank account of each of the employees who were accused," the Solicitor General explained to the bench. In one illustrative instance presented to the Court, investigators identified a property transaction where a sale deed was recorded for ₹15 lakh, while the actual market value of the property was estimated at approximately ₹50 lakh. This discrepancy, the government argued, provided clear evidence that the difference had been funded through clandestine cash payments linked to the pilferage.

The Scope of the Investigation

The SIT, led by Lucknow Range Inspector General of Police Kiran S, conducted an exhaustive probe involving the scrutiny of 173 witnesses, ranging from temple functionaries and accounting personnel to security staff and bank officials. The chargesheet, which spans over 60,000 pages, focuses on eight primary accused, including individuals previously associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s administrative operations.

Evidence compiled by the SIT identified 105 specific instances of unauthorized removal or concealment of currency from the counting room. The investigation also involved a physical verification of 803 valuable articles for which receipts existed, as well as an assessment of 86 articles for which no formal documentation was available. Furthermore, the probe scrutinized records concerning 944.411 kilograms of silver sent to the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited for melting, ensuring that all physical offerings remain accounted for.

The investigation was marked by high-stakes accountability, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath publicly maintaining a firm stance, asserting that the investigation would be thorough and that those responsible for the theft would face the full rigor of the law. Following the registration of the initial FIR, the SIT acted swiftly, arresting all eight suspects within hours, and subsequently conducting raids on their residences to recover stolen cash and assets. Reports indicated that initial recoveries amounted to approximately ₹79.85 lakh.

Transition to Judicial Trial

With the filing of the chargesheet before the anti-corruption court in Ayodhya, the legal focus has shifted from executive investigation to judicial determination. By allowing the petitioners to assist the Magistrate, the Supreme Court has acknowledged the unique nature of the case, emphasizing that the interests of the public and the institution of the temple transcend standard criminal proceedings.

The Court’s decision to close its oversight signifies that the administrative and forensic hurdles which necessitated the initial Supreme Court monitoring have been overcome by the state’s investigative machinery. The case will now proceed as a standard criminal trial, where the prosecution will present its evidence regarding the 105 identified instances of theft and the reconstructed financial trail.

As the matter shifts to the Ayodhya local court, the trial will test the robustness of the SIT’s evidence, particularly the forensic links established between the accused employees’ bank deposits and the alleged theft during donation counting. The proceedings are expected to be closely monitored by legal observers, given the significance of the temple and the public interest surrounding the management of its offerings. For the time being, the Supreme Court has cleared the path for the judiciary to address the allegations, marking the end of the apex court’s direct involvement in the preliminary investigation process.