UP SIT submits sealed report on Ram Temple donations to SC

The Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team has submitted a sealed status report to the Supreme Court regarding allegations of financial irregularities in donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The report was filed on Sunday, July 19, 2026, ahead of a scheduled Supreme Court hearing on Monday, July 20.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and including Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, will hear a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of funds. The bench had previously directed the SIT to submit the report during a hearing on July 13, where it also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple, seeking its response.

The petitions allege a lack of transparency in the collection and use of donations. They call for an independent probe, with some specifically requesting an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a forensic audit of the Trust's finances, and an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The pleas also urgently seek the preservation of all related records, including CCTV footage, digital payment logs,...