Supreme Court ends monitoring of Ram Mandir donation theft probe after UP files charge sheet

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ended the court-monitored probe into the alleged Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case after the Uttar Pradesh government informed it that the police had filed a charge sheet in the case.

A three-member bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana permitted the petitioners, who had approached the top court seeking an independent probe, to assist the trial court in the proceedings.

Also read: Ayodhya Ram temple donation row: SIT chargesheet filed, UP govt tells SC


The bench said the petitioners could assist the judicial magistrate in the same manner as the law permits victims of crime to participate in criminal proceedings. "It is not a simple case of an accused versus the state. It is a case where some element of public interest is also involved. Therefore, we will grant you, like the law now permits victims of crime, to assist the court," the bench said. It directed the trial court to proceed with the matter in accordance with the law. "Since there is an element of public interest involved, the petitioner is granted liberty to assist the court of learned Judicial Magistrate on the same premise as the law enables a victim of crime to assist the court," the bench ordered.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UP government, informed the bench that a charge sheet had been filed in the case relating to the alleged misappropriation of donations received at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Mehta submitted that the alleged pilferage took place during the counting of donations at the temple. According to the prosecution, certain persons involved in counting the cash would allegedly remove the money and either invest it elsewhere or deposit it into bank accounts. The case was registered in June this year following allegations of the unauthorised removal of cash donations from the temple premises.