21 September,2026 07:02 PM IST | Ayodhya | mid-day online correspondent
SIT probe substantially complete, chargesheet imminent in Ram Janmabhoomi donation theft (File pic)
Amid the row over alleged Ram Temple donation theft, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday, September 21, informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged financial irregularities in donations and offerings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya has substantially completed its investigation.
As per IANS, the UP government also said that they will be submitting the chargesheet in the court within the next two days.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, as per IANS.
Appearing for the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told SC that the status report had been submitted in a sealed cover.
Mehta also informed the CJI-led Bench that the deadline for filing the charge sheet expires on September 25 and said that the charge sheet would be filed within the next two days.
The Uttar Pradesh government further informed the Supreme Court that the investigation has been completed. The UP government said that the investigation has been completed to a substantial extent and the chargesheet would be filed before the competent court upon completion of the remaining formalities, as per IANS.
Taking the submission on record, the bench permitted the Sessions Judge concerned to pass an appropriate order in accordance with law.
The status report placed before the apex court also detailed the manner in which the SIT analysed CCTV footage and other material to identify the accused persons, besides examining records relating to donations and offerings.
According to the status report, analysis of CCTV footage revealed 105 incidents of theft of donations at the temple, as per IANS.
The status report also informed the top court that receipts for valuable items received as offerings are generated through software and that such valuables are kept in State Bank of India (SBI) lockers.
(With inputs from IANS)
