UP reconstitutes SIT to probe Ram temple donation irregularities
Synopsis
The Uttar Pradesh government has reconstituted the SIT probing alleged misappropriation of Ram temple donations — and the Supreme Court has gone a step further, directing that a forensic auditor join the team. With devotees alleging donations ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,000 never reached the Trust, the probe has widened into a question of institutional accountability at one of India's most prominent religious trusts.
Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court on 27 July that it has reconstituted the SIT probing alleged donation irregularities at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust .
The reconstituted SIT is headed by IG Kiran S , with DIG Ayodhya Somen Verma and SSP Ayodhya Dr Gaurav Grover as members.
The Supreme Court directed that a forensic auditor be added to the SIT, given the nature of alleged fund misappropriation.
Petitioners alleged donations of ₹100 to ₹1,000 from devotees across India did not reach the Trust; they sought donor receipt transparency on the Trust's website.
The court has directed the SIT to file a status report and emphasised the need for a 'fair, speedy and qualitative investigation.' A batch of petitions has been filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami , Ajay Kumar Rai , RJD MP Sudhakar Singh , and Hindu Dharma Parishad .
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday, 27 July informed the Supreme Court that it has reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The disclosure was made before a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, which is hearing a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the matter.
Composition of the Reconstituted SIT
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for both the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, told the apex court that the SIT has been constituted and has taken charge of the investigation. 'We have constituted an SIT headed by Inspector General of Police Kiran S. There is one Deputy Inspector General (DIG), one Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and one Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP),' SG Mehta submitted.
The reconstituted SIT comprises three senior IPS officers: IG Kiran S as head, DIG Ayodhya Somen Verma and SSP Ayodhya Dr Gaurav Grover as members. When a petitioner's counsel suggested that an independent accountant be added to the team, SG Mehta agreed, saying, 'We will include.'
Supreme Court Directs Forensic Auditor Be Added
The CJI Kant-led bench observed that the investigation involves allegations of misappropriation of trust funds and directed that a forensic auditor be associated with the SIT. The court recorded in its order: 'Since the nature of the investigation involves alleged misappropriation of trust funds, the Solicitor General has fairly agreed that a forensic auditor shall also be associated as a member of the SIT.'
The bench directed the SIT to file a status report, emphasising that the court's immediate focus was on ensuring a 'fair, speedy and qualitative investigation.'
What Petitioners Alleged in Court
Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for one of the petitioners, submitted that devotees across the country had donated amounts ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,000 and alleged that in several cases the money had not reached the Trust. Kamat urged the Trust to upload donor receipts on its website so contributors could verify whether their donations had been credited.
'People have given ₹500, ₹1,000. Ultimately, the money has not reached the Trust. Whatever the Trust got may be shown on a website so that people will know that their money has reached. This is not adversarial,' Kamat submitted.
The apex court, however, said its immediate concern remained the ongoing investigation, adding that remedial actions — including transparency measures — would be addressed at a later stage.
Background and Earlier Proceedings
At the previous hearing on 20 July, the Supreme Court had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to consider reconstituting the SIT, observing that the probe should be led by a senior IPS officer and taken to its 'logical conclusion.' The court had also cautioned against politicising the matter, stating that 'courts are not a place for politics.'
On 13 July, the Supreme Court had issued notice in the matter and directed the then-SIT to submit a detailed status report, including particulars of its composition. The batch of petitions has been filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner-in-person Ajay Kumar Rai, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh, and Hindu Dharma Parishad.
The court has left open the question of further remedial action, including donor receipt transparency, and indicated it will issue appropriate directions if the SIT encounters difficulties during the probe.
Point of View
Not merely a criminal one. That distinction matters: forensic audits can trace fund flows in ways that standard police investigations cannot, and the court's move suggests it has doubts about whether a police-led SIT alone can untangle the alleged discrepancies. What is notably absent so far is any response from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself — a silence that the court will likely address as the probe advances. The transparency demand from petitioners, asking for donor receipts to be published online, is low-cost and high-trust; the court's decision to defer it rather than order it immediately is a signal that it does not want the investigation derailed into a public-relations exercise.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the SIT probing Ram temple donation irregularities been reconstituted?
The Supreme Court, at a hearing on 20 July, asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reconstitute the SIT and ensure it was led by a senior IPS officer capable of taking the investigation to its 'logical conclusion.' The earlier SIT had been constituted primarily to verify the veracity of allegations, and the court felt a more senior-led team was needed for a full criminal probe.
Who heads the reconstituted SIT and who are its members?
The reconstituted SIT is headed by Inspector General of Police Kiran S, with DIG Ayodhya Somen Verma and SSP Ayodhya Dr Gaurav Grover as members. The Supreme Court has also directed that a forensic auditor be added to the team.
What are the specific allegations against the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust?
Petitioners allege financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Trust. Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat submitted in court that devotees who donated amounts ranging from ₹100 to ₹1,000 alleged their money never reached the Trust.
What did the Supreme Court order at the 27 July hearing?
The Supreme Court directed that a forensic auditor be associated with the SIT, given that the investigation involves alleged misappropriation of trust funds. It also asked the SIT to file a status report and said its immediate focus was on ensuring a 'fair, speedy and qualitative investigation.'
Who has filed petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Ram temple trust?
The batch of petitions has been filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, petitioner-in-person Ajay Kumar Rai, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, and Hindu Dharma Parishad, all seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.
