2 hrs ago
Congress Questions Delay in Ayodhya Temple Donation Theft Chargesheet
Congress says the investigation into alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya temple is taking too long.
It wants the authorities to investigate the entire donation system carefully.
A court was told that CCTV footage showed 105 possible theft incidents.
An earlier preliminary investigation had counted 70 incidents.
The investigating team is expected to file its first chargesheet by September 25.
This deadline matters because the accused could seek default bail if the chargesheet is late.
Congress also questioned whether influential people were being protected.
It asked for a forensic audit and complete transparency.
The Supreme Court of India is reviewing the investigation’s progress.
Congress questioned the delay in filing a chargesheet in the alleged Ayodhya temple donation theft case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court of India that the first chargesheet would be filed by September 25.
A forensic review reportedly found 105 donation-theft incidents on CCTV, compared with 70 in an earlier preliminary probe.
Congress demanded a forensic audit, strict action against those responsible, and a transparent investigation.
The Supreme Court of India was told that failure to file the chargesheet within 90 days could allow accused people to seek default bail.
- Who
- Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, the court-appointed Special Investigation Team, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and the Supreme Court of India are central to the report.
- What
- Congress criticized the delay in filing a chargesheet in the alleged theft and embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
- Where
- The alleged incidents occurred at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, while the investigation’s status was discussed before the Supreme Court of India.
- When
- The remarks were reported on September 22; the 90-day deadline for filing the chargesheet was stated to be September 25.
- Why
- The chargesheet deadline is linked to statutory default-bail rights if the investigation agency does not file it within 90 days of the first arrest.
Congress’s allegations and demands
Investigation and court process
Reason for the delay
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress alleged that the delay could be protecting influential suspects or the alleged masterminds, and questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the temple trust’s accountability.
Investigation and court process
The Solicitor General said the court-appointed Special Investigation Team had to file the chargesheet by September 25 because the statutory 90-day period was ending; the Supreme Court of India had also directed the SIT to complete the investigation promptly.
Scope of the investigation
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress said the reported increase from 70 to 105 CCTV-recorded incidents showed the need for a forensic audit of the entire donation system and complete transparency.
Investigation and court process
The court had received a detailed SIT status report in a sealed cover and was told that the investigation would produce its first chargesheet by the deadline; the report does not state that the court accepted Congress’s allegations.
Accountability
Congress’s allegations and demands
Congress called for strict action against those responsible and questioned why action had not been taken against alleged major offenders or why the trust had not been dissolved.
Investigation and court process
The reported court process focuses on completing the investigation and filing the chargesheet within the legal period; the articles do not report a final finding on responsibility.
Key facts
- Reported CCTV incidents
- 105 alleged donation-theft incidents were reportedly identified through forensic examination of CCTV footage.
- Earlier preliminary count
- The preliminary probe had reported 70 incidents.
- Chargesheet deadline
- The first chargesheet was expected on or before September 25.
- Legal deadline
- The statutory 90-day period from the first arrest was due to expire on September 25.
- Possible consequence
- Accused people could seek default bail if the chargesheet was not filed within the stipulated period.
- Congress demands
- A forensic audit, strict action against those responsible, and a transparent investigation.
- Court material
- The Supreme Court of India reviewed a detailed SIT status report submitted in a sealed cover.
Quotes
Jairam Ramesh
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications
“Let us make it clear that the people of the country have absolutely no faith in such an SIT or any government chargesheet where there’s a lingering suspicion of protecting the big fish.”
theprint.in
“Ninety days from the date of the first arrest are going to be over on September 25, so we will have to file the chargesheet, otherwise, they (the accused) will get default bail.”
theprint.in
Sources
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