SC to hear Ram temple donation embezzlement pleas on Aug 17

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on August 17 a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was apprised by a lawyer that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who has been appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, has gone to the United Nations for a function.

The bench deferred the hearing to August 17.

Earlier in the day, the top court agreed to consider the request by the counsel for the



Uttar Pradesh government to defer the hearing on these pleas.

On July 27, the top court took note of the setting up of a four-member SIT headed by IGP Kiran S to probe alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple.

It had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to also include a forensic auditor in the probe team.

Observing that “remedial actions will have to be taken”, the bench had said steps will be taken to “ensure transparency”.

The bench had also directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit a status report in two weeks.