Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on July 27 directed the newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a report on the status of its probe into the Ayodhya Ram Mandir fund embezzlement case.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joynalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing petitions seeking a CBI proble into the alleged theft of funds for construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir,
Appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the State has reconstituted the SIT and it is now headed by Inspector General of Police (IG) Kiran S, and comprising senior police officers, including a Deputy Inspector General, an Inspector General and a Superintendent of Police.
Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for one of the petitioners, submitted that devotees across the country had contributed amounts ranging from Rs100 to Rs 500 through an organised collection drive, and that all of the money has allegedly not reached the trust overseeing the Ram Mandir’s construction and management.
He urged the Court to direct that receipts issued by the trust be uploaded online to ensure transparency.
However, the Chief Justice said the Court was presently focused on ensuring a fair and speedy investigation and would consider other remedial measures for transparency after the SIT’s findings are placed on record.
“Let the SIT give its report. All remedial steps to ensure transparency will be taken. We are on qualitative investigation of the incident. We are focused on having a fair, speedy and impartial investigation,” the CJI observed.
