Supreme Court Leaves Ayodhya Donation Case to Local Trial

The Supreme Court of India has disposed of petitions seeking an independent investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple, allowing the petitioners to assist the local court as the case proceeds to trial. The Uttar Pradesh government told the Court that a chargesheet had been filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, took the government’s submission on record. It directed that the trial proceed in accordance with law and said it had expressed no opinion on the merits of the allegations. The Court’s decision does not determine whether any accused person is guilty. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, told the bench that the SIT found donations had been embezzled during the temple’s counting process. He said some accused had invested the money in property, while others had deposited it in banks. These are investigative findings and submissions to the Court, not findings of guilt after trial. The petitioners had approached the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe. The bench permitted them to assist the Ayodhya...