SC to hear pleas on Ram temple donation irregularities July 20

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas on July 20, 2026, concerning the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will hear four separate pleas related to the issue. The apex court had previously agreed to hear these petitions on July 13 and directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the matter, to submit a status report. Notices have also been issued to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, seeking its response. Several petitioners are seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the alleged financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds. Specifically, some pleas are calling for a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe and a forensic audit of the entire finances of the Trust. One petition, filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh, seeks a comprehensive forensic audit of all donations, transactions, and assets of the Trust. The allegations of donation theft at the Ram temple first surfaced in early June 2026. An FIR was registered on June 25, 2026, following a complaint by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. This led to the arrest of eight individuals, including temple employees who were reportedly involved in counting cash and valuables donated by devotees. CCTV footage has emerged as crucial evidence, allegedly showing six of the arrested accused concealing currency notes during the counting process. The scope of the investigation has since widened, with authorities examining around 30 more employees engaged in counting cash offerings. Many of these employees were allegedly hired based on recommendations from Trust office bearers or their associates. Investigators are scrutinizing their backgrounds and financial records to determine if they accumulated assets disproportionate to their known income. The probe is also looking into the recruitment process itself, with sources indicating that sensitive work was entrusted through ad-hoc hiring, potentially allowing relatives and acquaintances of Trust functionaries into the system. In response to the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an SIT on June 13, 2026, at the request of the temple trust. This SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S., and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. The SIT submitted an interim report on June 23, which reportedly led to the FIR and arrests. Amidst the controversy, there have been significant administrative developments within the Trust. General Secretary Champat Rai and senior trustee Anil Mishra resigned, reportedly taking moral responsibility for the donation theft row. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had previously refused an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a court-monitored probe, with a bench observing that "Heavens are not going to fall… What is the urgency." The matter was then listed for hearing after the summer break. Opposition parties have stated their intention to raise the issue of alleged donation embezzlement during the Monsoon session of Parliament, which is scheduled to commence on July 20, 2026. The allegations involve dishonest misappropriation, diversion, and embezzlement of public donations intended for the Ram Temple. Petitioners argue that such allegations, regardless of their veracity, have caused deep concern among devotees and the public, impacting faith and confidence in the Trust's administration. The Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on July 20 is expected to provide further direction on the investigation and the probe into the financial dealings of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The initial discovery of the alleged embezzlement reportedly stemmed from a chance recovery of cash concealed in a washroom by a gatekeeper, who alerted a trustee. This led to an internal inquiry by the Trust before approaching the police. Within 17 hours of the complaint, police recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash from various locations, along with jewelry and property documents. The case highlights the broader issues of transparency and accountability in the management of temple finances, particularly for organizations established after significant religious and political events. The public and several political entities are keenly watching the Supreme Court's proceedings and the progress of the SIT's investigation.

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