The Supreme Court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to include a forensic investigative auditor to probe the alleged embezzlement and siphoning of donation money at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The Court said that a chartered accountant with expertise in forensic audit be added as a member to the SIT—headed by Inspector General of Police Mr. Kiran S.—to ensure a speedy, qualitative, fair, and transparent investigation into the trust's finances. The Court also directed the team to submit a status report on the ongoing probe.

Previously, the Court directed the Special Investigation Team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the alleged embezzlement of donation money at the temple to submit a status report in the matter. It had also issued a notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on pleas seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the alleged donation theft.

The Court had also asked the Uttar Pradesh government, to take instructions on whether the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which had examined the entire issue before registration of the FIR, could be entrusted with the responsibility to probe the case instead of the local police.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana ordered, "In terms of the observations made by this Court on the previous date of hearing, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has issued an Office Memorandum dated 25th July 2026, constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising the following...Since the nature of the investigation involves accountancy, possible siphoning, and misappropriation of trust funds...Learned Solicitor General of India, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh, has fairly agreed that a forensic investigative auditor shall also be associated as a member of the SIT. An auditor having expertise in forensic audit shall also be associated as a member of the SIT. We have been informed that the SIT has already taken charge and the investigation is ongoing. We direct the SIT to submit a status report with respect to the ongoing investigation."

 Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamat appeared for the Petitioners, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Narendra Kumar Goswami, one of the three petitioners, moved the Apex Court seeking a CBI probe into the matter. He also sought a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the finances of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram temple.

Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav filed the second petition seeking similar measures. Besides seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, the third petition filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has sought a forensic audit of the entire finances of the temple trust.

SG Tushar Mehta (for State of UP) submitted, "We have constituted an SIT, which will be headed by the officer the Court was pleased to indicate: Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kiran S. He will be the Chairman of the SIT. Then there is one Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), one Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and one Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)."

CJI Kant said, "Some eminent Chartered Accountant should also be made part of it. One Chartered Accountant should also be there."

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat submitted, "One of the suggestions, which is probably fair for consideration, relates to the receipts collected by the trust from all over the country. People from all over the country have contributed ₹100, ₹500, etc. There are large-scale reports that the money from these receipts ultimately has not reached the trust. So, one of the issues the SIT may look into is whether the entirety of the money given by people in faith has reached the trust. What I am requesting is that whatever receipts the trust has received be placed on the website, so people will know whether their money eventually reached or not. Otherwise, it is an impossible task. Ultimately, there is nothing to hide, and this is not adversarial. If people have given ₹500 or ₹1,000, let it all be put on a website, area-wise."

CJI Kant submitted, "The entire record of the trust, we safely presume, must now be with the SIT...Let the SIT do its job. We are not closing the matter. All these remedial actions will have to be taken. We will consider directions regarding remedial steps to ensure transparency. A forensic auditor shall be added. We are asking them to submit a report to us. We must have a speedy, qualitative, fair, impartial, and aboveboard investigation."

Earlier, a partial working day bench headed by Justice B V Nagarathna had asked one of the petitioners to mention the case for urgent hearing on a later date.

The petition, filed by practising advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, said a CBI-led multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) should investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of the temple trust.

In the petition, Rai sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust for constituting and operationalising such regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms, as may be necessary, to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors.

Cause Title: Ajay Kumar Rai v. Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and Ors.[W.P.(Crl.) No. 241/2026] and Narender Kumar Goswami v. Union of India and Ors. [W.P.(C) No. 790/2026]

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