The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Ram Mandir Trust and the Uttar Pradesh government in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation theft case. It also sought a status report from the SIT investigating the matter. The next hearing is scheduled for 20 July.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant was hearing three separate petitions. The petitions sought to transfer the investigation to the CBI, constitution of a new SIT, and forming an expert committee to review various issues related to the management of temple donations.
Meanwhile, Ayodhya Police will produce all eight arrested accused before the court through video conferencing. Their remand period ends today. During the hearing, police may seek seven-day remand of Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, a close aide of former Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai, and Subhash Srivastava, who was in charge of counting donations.
Earlier, police had taken accused Avinash, Anukalp, Lavkush and Karunesh on remand for questioning. The accused in the donation theft case have been kept in separate barracks at Faizabad Jail.
Meanwhile, Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya of Tapasvi Chhawani said that if anyone has committed wrongdoing, they should not be spared. He claimed that Samajwadi Party leaders had no right to make allegations and alleged that they wanted to demolish the Ram Mandir and rebuild the Babri Mosque.
According to sources, the team of Krishna Mohan, the interim general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, may take charge after July 22. Discussions on the matter are underway.
Updates
On the alleged theft of offerings from the Ayodhya Ram Temple, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi says the RSS has repeatedly taken credit over religious issues and the Ram Temple. She calls it shameful that such a major incident took place under the supervision of trustees linked to the RSS and VHP.
She says that if the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision was not politically motivated, the investigation would have been handed over to the CBI.
On the Ram Temple donation theft case, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand says in Bahraich on Monday, “A very big sin has been committed by them. The unfortunate thing is that those people are still sitting there. A thief-and-police game is going on… this is not right. Strict punishment should be given.”
The Teerthakshetra institution invites applications from eligible and interested candidates for the selection of its Chief Executive Officer. Information in this regard is as follows:
- Post: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Service Contract Period: 3 years. Renewal is possible based on satisfactory performance.
- Place of Posting: Ayodhya
- Salary and Facilities: To be decided through mutual discussion.
Eligibility Criteria
- Educational: Minimum Graduate
- Age: Between 50 to 70 years
- Experience: Minimum 20 years of experience in managerial responsibilities within a large public organization / institution / department / company. This experience should be multi-dimensional, involving the coordination and guidance of areas such as General Administration, Finance, Accounts, Personnel, Public Relations, IT, Security, Law, etc. Preference will be given to experience as a Chief Administrative Officer or in the management of a Temple / Hindu Religious Institution. Retired officers possessing this type of experience, skill, and capability may also apply.
- Job Description: Attached
- Religious Belief: Must be an active Hindu. Being a devotee of Shri Ram (Vaishnav) is desirable.
- Language Proficiency: Good knowledge of Hindi and English is mandatory.
- Last Date and Time for Receiving Applications: July 18, 2026, by 4:00 PM
- Mode of Sending Applications: Send via email to searchcommittee.srjbt@gmail.com
The Ram Temple Trust has invited applications for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Candidates applying for the post should be between 50 and 70 years of age. The required educational qualification is graduation. The last date to apply is July 18, 2026, at 4 pm.
Candidates must have at least 20 years of managerial experience in a large public organisation, institution, department or company.
Applicants should have experience in coordinating general administration, finance, accounts, human resources (HR), public relations, IT, security, legal affairs or other administrative functions.
Candidates with experience in managing temples, Hindu religious institutions or charitable organisations can also apply.
Preference will be given to candidates with excellent leadership abilities, coordination skills and management expertise.
Lawyer and petitioner Narendra Goswami said that notices have been issued to the Uttar Pradesh government, Ram Temple Trust and all those named as respondents, totalling around 11 parties.
He said the matter is highly sensitive, questioning how anyone could steal offerings made to God. He added that the main concerns are transparency and accountability.
Lawyer and petitioner Narendra Goswami said that the court has currently sought only a status report because, at the time of filing the petition, there were only speculations surrounding the matter.
He said that before the court’s vacation, they had argued that evidence such as CCTV footage and DVRs could be destroyed, damaged or tampered with, and therefore should be secured first before the SIT submits its report to the court.
Goswami added that the court accepted this aspect of his petition. As a result, the SIT report will be placed on record.
The Supreme Court said that it had been informed that an SIT has been constituted. It directed the SIT formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a status report. The matter has been listed for further consideration on the following Monday.
The Solicitor General said that the report would be submitted in a sealed cover. The court responded that the status report should contain complete details about the formation of the SIT.
A lawyer representing the petitioners said that the status report could be provided to the petitioners. On this, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) said, “We will see later. The investigation is ongoing.”
The petitioners told the Supreme Court that the state government had already constituted an SIT. They said that some crucial evidence in the case, including CCTV footage, could be destroyed over time.
On this, the Chief Justice of India remarked, “Save your energy, it will be needed outside as well.” The court then sought a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT and listed the matter for hearing on the following Monday.
Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh seeking response on pleas for an independent, court-monitored probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi temple. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana has sought a status report of the SIT probe ordered by the UP government. “We direct SIT constituted by the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report . Post this matter for further consideration on next Monday. Please also mention the composition of SIT in the status report”, the Court said. The court has also sought a response from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust that manages the Ram Mandir, on the pleas.
Mahant Acharya Sitaram Das Maharaj of Saket Bhawan hit back at Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks on the Ayodhya Ram Temple case. He said that Kejriwal is neither a judicial nor a constitutional authority, and alleged that such people do not believe in the Constitution.
He called them people with a “petty mindset” and said they periodically take different forms like “rain frogs” and “Kalanemis” (a reference to the demon from the Ramayana). He alleged that they have no faith in Sanatan Dharma, no love for Sanatan traditions, and no affection for Ram Janmabhoomi or Ram Lalla.
In the Ram Temple donation theft case, petitioner’s lawyer Ajay Kumar Rai said that the investigation is currently being conducted by the Circle Officer and officials of the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station.
He added that he does not believe the SIT is conducting the probe at present and that there are also some legal complications associated with the SIT.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has referred to Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati as ‘Congressacharya’ and ‘Sapacharya’ after he called the Ram Mandir an office of the BJP and RSS.
VHP national general secretary Rahul Singh released a video statement at 6:30 am on Monday, calling him ‘Kalanemi’ (a demon from the Ramayana era) and an ‘opportunist’.
SP leader Fakhrul Hasan Chand said that the Ram Temple was built following the directions of the Supreme Court. He added that the members of the temple trust were also selected based on the court’s instructions, making the Supreme Court’s decision significant.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Monday claimed that the recent remarks of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat amounted to a direct acceptance of the alleged theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Speaking to news agency ANI, he demanded an immediate and time-bound investigation into the matter by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
Iqbal Ansari, a former litigant in the Babri Masjid case, said the people of Ayodhya were happy and that those involved in the Ram Temple donation theft case were in jail.
He said devotees were continuing to visit Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram Temple and Hanuman Temple, take a dip in the Saryu River, and witness the city’s development and the employment opportunities being created there.
Responding to the Supreme Court hearing on the Ram Temple donation theft case, Uttar Pradesh minister Anil Rajbhar said the court had commented on the matter earlier as well and that the government would respect whatever order it issued.
He said anyone with a grievance was welcome to come forward and it would be heard. Rajbhar added that the government wanted a transparent investigation to establish the truth and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Mahant Dinendra Das, a trustee of the Ram Temple Trust, visited the Ram Temple complex on Sunday. He offered prayers at several temples and inspected the donation counting centre as well as the pilgrim service centre.
Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said that whatever decision the Supreme Court delivers will be respected and would help improve the functioning of the trust. He added that any past mistakes would be corrected and that everything would be set right.
The team of Krishna Mohan, the interim general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, is likely to take charge after July 22. Discussions are underway, and a list of members for the new team is being prepared.
Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya of Tapasvi Chhawani said that if anyone has committed a grave wrongdoing at the Ram Temple, they should not be protected. However, he added that the investigation should not be conducted at the behest of the INDIA bloc.
He alleged that the INDIA bloc, which he claimed had ordered firing on Ram devotees and whose leaders had never visited the Ram Temple, had no right to comment on the matter. He further alleged that Samajwadi Party leaders wanted to demolish the Ram Temple and rebuild the Babri Mosque at the site, and urged people to remain cautious of them.
First petition: Filed by Supreme Court lawyer Narendra Kumar Goswami. It seeks a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the case and also demands a CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) audit of the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Second petition: Filed by lawyers Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav. It seeks a CBI investigation into the entire case.
Third petition: Filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh. It seeks a forensic audit of all financial affairs of the temple trust and a CBI investigation under the Supreme Court’s supervision. The petition also requests that all financial records—including physical documents, digital ledgers, UPI transaction logs and bank statements—be preserved to prevent any tampering with evidence.
The SIT investigating the Ram Temple donation theft case recorded the statement of Hindutva leader and kar sevak Santosh Dubey via video conferencing late on Sunday evening. During the interaction, the investigation team sought details about the allegations made by him and asked him to provide any supporting evidence.
After recording his statement, Dubey said the SIT questioned him about the alleged disappearance of 1,200 carved stones before the construction of the Ram Temple, alleged thefts after the formation of the temple trust, and issues related to temple donations. He said he shared all the information available to him from 2002 onwards with the investigation team.
Dubey said he had urged the SIT to conduct a fair and impartial investigation and take action against those found guilty. He added that the team heard his version of events, calling it a positive step.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference in Delhi on Sunday, saying that those responsible for the alleged theft of Ram Temple donations should be awarded the death penalty. He alleged that the BJP sought votes in the name of Lord Ram to form governments at the Centre and in 21 states, but later betrayed Lord Ram.
Kejriwal said the party was launching a signature campaign in the form of a letter from a devotee of Lord Ram addressed to the Prime Minister. He said the letter expresses devotees’ anguish and urges the Prime Minister to ensure that those accused of stealing from the Ram Temple are publicly hanged.
He also appealed to devotees of Lord Ram across the country to organise recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa in their neighbourhoods, housing societies and villages, and to sign the letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the death penalty for those responsible for the alleged theft at the Ram Temple.
