- SC orders forensic auditor for Ayodhya Ram Mandir theft SIT.
- Uttar Pradesh government directed to include auditor in probe.
- SIT to investigate donation embezzlement and temple finances.
Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include a forensic auditor in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the offering theft at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations of embezzlement of donations and audit of the temple Trust finances.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, representing the State of UP, accepted the suggestion regarding a forensic auditor.
SC directs SIT to file status report in two weeks
During the hearing, the apex court also directed the SIT to file a status report within two weeks. The top court was informed by the government that the SIT was formed to supervise the police probe into the donation theft case.
The court took note of the submissions of SG Mehta that the SIT was formed through a notification issued on July 25 following the apex court's suggestion.
Mehta added that the SIT was formed under IG of Police. He added that besides the IGP, the SIT will include a DIG-rank officer, a senior superintendent of police and an additional SP.
During the hearing, the bench said that let the SIT give its report. "All remedial steps to ensure transparency will be taken. We are on a qualitative investigation of the incident," the bench said while deferring the hearing for two weeks.
"We are focused on having a fair, speedy, impartial investigation," the CJI said. Notably, during an earlier hearing on July 20, the bench had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to apprise it about the possibility of setting up an SIT to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations.