NEW DELHI:
The Congress has questioned the delay in filing a charge sheet in the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded a forensic audit of the temple trust’s financial and management systems.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh raised the issue after the Supreme Court was informed that the Special Investigation Team probing the case had identified 105 instances of alleged unauthorised removal of currency through CCTV footage.
The number is higher than the 70 suspected incidents identified in the preliminary investigation.
The Supreme Court was informed that the SIT would file its first chargesheet on or before September 25. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant that the statutory 90-day period from the first arrest would expire on that date.
If the chargesheet is not filed within the prescribed period, the accused could become eligible for statutory or default bail, subject to the applicable legal conditions.
The Supreme Court has been monitoring the investigation and had earlier directed the probe team to complete its investigation expeditiously and take it to its logical conclusion.
The SIT’s latest status report, placed before the Supreme Court in a sealed cover, reportedly relied on CCTV footage, recoveries, forensic examination and financial audits. The court was told that the role of each person allegedly involved had been assessed.
The probe concerns allegations of irregularities in the handling of donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A four-member SIT was constituted following the Supreme Court’s intervention, with a forensic auditor also brought into the investigation.
Ramesh alleged that the delay in filing the chargesheet raised questions about whether the investigation was adequately addressing those responsible for the alleged irregularities. He also demanded strict action against those found responsible and greater transparency in the probe.
The Congress has specifically called for a forensic audit of the entire donation-handling system and questioned whether the investigation was adequately examining the role of senior or influential persons.
These remain political allegations and demands made by the Congress, while the investigation and the court proceedings are continuing.
The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a copy of the chargesheet to it after it is filed. The court has also retained the possibility of further investigation as permitted under law.