SIT to File Chargesheet in Ram Temple Donation Theft Case by September 25

The Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) is set to file its first chargesheet in the Ram Temple donation misappropriation case on or before September 25, 2026. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant on Monday that the investigation has been substantially concluded, with the roles of all alleged participants assessed. The filing deadline is critical, as it marks the end of the 90-day statutory period following the first arrests in the case, after which the accused would be entitled to default bail under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 classifies theft in any place of worship as an aggravated offence under Section 305(c). Misappropriation of donations by counting personnel is prosecuted under Criminal Breach of Trust.

The Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to include an independent forensic auditor in the Special Investigation Team probing Ram Temple donation theft.

The SIT status report, submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover, details 105 distinct instances of unauthorized currency removal captured on the temple's CCTV surveillance system. The probe team has analyzed this footage alongside witness statements and other materials to identify the accused. Eight individuals, identified as Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ram Shankar Yadav, have been arrested and booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, declined a request from petitioners to access the SIT report. The court maintained that it did not intend to intervene in the jurisdiction of the Sessions Court, though it directed the state government to file a copy of the final chargesheet with the apex court. The bench has previously directed the probe team to complete its work expeditiously and ensure transparency in the process.

The investigation follows significant management changes at the Ram Mandir Trust, which occurred earlier this year after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced. The state government constituted the four-member SIT, headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, on June 13. The team was later expanded to include a forensic auditor following Supreme Court directions. Administrative reforms within the trust have since been implemented, including the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the new CEO to oversee future operations. The jurisdictional Additional Sessions Judge is expected to receive the chargesheet by the September 25 deadline.