Archive · 17 Aug 2026
Court Allows Public Suggestions for Ram Mandir Donation SIT Probe
The Supreme Court is the highest court in India, like the head judge of the whole country.
Some people said that money given to a big temple in Ayodhya might have been stolen.
The police made a special team called the SIT to find out what happened.
The court said that anyone with good ideas can send them to a lawyer called the Solicitor General.
That lawyer will pass the ideas to the special team.
The team must write a secret report and give it to the court.
The judges will read the report first before showing it to other people.
People also asked the court to look at how donations are counted and at some land deals.
Another group asked to change how the temple's trust is run, but the court said that is a separate question.
The court wants to make sure the investigation is fair and complete.
The Supreme Court allowed petitioners and bona fide public-spirited persons to submit suggestions to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's office on issues for the SIT investigation.
The SIT, constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Police, is probing alleged theft of donations received by the Ram Mandir trust in Ayodhya and includes a forensic auditor.
The court directed the SIT to submit a status report in a sealed cover, which the Supreme Court will examine before deciding whether to release it to parties.
Petitioners raised concerns about donation transparency, an independent chartered accountant audit, and land transactions where land value reportedly rose sharply in a short period.
The court declined to entertain Nirmohi Akhara's application to convert the Ram Mandir trust into a public trust, advising it to file a separate petition.
- Who
- A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the Uttar Pradesh Police SIT, and petitioners including Nirmohi Akhara.
- What
- The court allowed public suggestions for the SIT probe into alleged theft of donations received by the Ram Mandir trust and ordered a sealed-cover status report.
- When
- Monday, during a hearing on a batch of petitions.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India; the probe concerns the Ram Mandir trust in Ayodhya.
- Why
- Petitions alleged theft of donations and sought a court-monitored investigation and audit of the trust's accounts.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
- Solicitor General
- Tushar Mehta
- Investigating body
- SIT constituted by Uttar Pradesh Police, including a forensic auditor
- Subject of probe
- Alleged theft of donations to the Ram Mandir trust in Ayodhya
- Status report
- To be submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover
- Other issues raised
- Donation transparency, chartered accountant audit, land transactions
- Nirmohi Akhara application
- Not entertained; separate petition advised