The matter was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the court that a status report had been submitted and that eight individuals had been arrested in connection with the case.
"I cannot divulge much," Mehta told the bench while referring to the ongoing investigation.
As the bench examined the status report, Chief Justice Surya Kant sought clarification on whether the investigation was still being conducted by the Special Investigation Team. Responding to the query, Mehta stated that the Special Investigation Team had initially verified the allegations and found that a cognizable offence had been committed. Following that preliminary exercise, the investigation was transferred to the police.
"The Special Investigation Team was constituted to ascertain the truthfulness of the allegations. It found that a cognizable offence existed, and the matter is now being investigated by the police," Mehta informed the court.
The bench observed that the Special Investigation Team itself could continue the investigation and questioned whether it could be reconstituted under the supervision of a senior officer to ensure a comprehensive probe.
Chief Justice Surya Kant also issued a strong caution against giving the matter a political dimension, emphasizing that the investigation must proceed without external influence. "We are only cautioning... do not politicise the issue. The investigation must be fair and taken to a logical conclusion," the Chief Justice said during the hearing.
After reviewing the status report, the bench stated that it would require three to four days to examine the material in detail before issuing further directions. The matter has now been listed for hearing on July 27, when the court indicated that it would pass appropriate directions.
The case originated after allegations surfaced regarding the theft of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A First Information Report was registered on June 25, following which eight individuals were arrested. Among those arrested was Ramashankar Mishra, the former driver of Champat Rai, who was serving as the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Subsequently, Champat Rai resigned from the post of general secretary of the trust, while trustee Anil Mishra also stepped down from his position.
The Supreme Court's observations have placed the focus on ensuring an impartial and transparent investigation while underscoring that the judicial process must remain free from political influence. With the court set to issue further directions on July 27, the proceedings are expected to play a significant role in determining the future course of the investigation into the alleged donation theft at one of the country's most prominent religious institutions.
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