Ram Temple Donation Case: SIT To File First Chargesheet by September 25

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will file its first chargesheet by September 25, the Supreme Court was informed on Monday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that the investigation was substantially complete and the chargesheet would be submitted within the statutory deadline, TOI reported.

The development comes as the 90-day period from the first arrests in the case approaches its September 25 deadline. The Solicitor General told the court that the chargesheet needed to be filed by then to avoid the accused becoming eligible for statutory or default bail. Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Row: Maharashtra Congress to Launch Statewide Protest Against BJP, RSS.

SIT Investigation Nears Completion

The Supreme Court was informed that the SIT has identified the persons allegedly involved and collected documentary and electronic evidence during the investigation.

According to the status report placed before the court, investigators analysed CCTV footage and other material to identify the accused. The SIT has also submitted a detailed status report to the Supreme Court, which the bench examined during Monday's hearing. The chargesheet is expected to be filed before the competent court dealing with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Ram Mandir Trust Says All Devotee Donations Are Safe, Displays Gold-Plated Ramcharitmanas (Video).

105 Alleged Theft Instances Captured on CCTV

The SIT report cited before the Supreme Court stated that 105 instances of alleged donation theft were captured on CCTV footage inside the temple premises.

Investigators have been examining the footage and other records as part of efforts to establish the sequence of events and identify those allegedly involved. The findings cited in court concern allegations under investigation and will be tested through the legal process. Earlier reporting on the investigation said CCTV footage, duty charts, cash-handling registers, bank transactions and digital records were being examined.

Eight Accused Arrested

Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case. They include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav.

The arrests followed an FIR registered on June 25 after a preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities in the handling of temple donations. The accused were associated with the temple's donation-counting process, according to reports. The charges against the accused have not been adjudicated by a court.

Supreme Court Had Sought Expedited Probe

The Supreme Court has been monitoring the investigation after petitions sought an independent probe into alleged irregularities involving donations made for the Ram temple.

In July, the court took note of the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to constitute an SIT headed by Lucknow Inspector General of Police Kiran S. The court also directed that a forensic auditor be included in the investigation team.

The petitions before the court include requests for a comprehensive audit of the finances of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and an independent investigation into the allegations.

Earlier Probe Reported Lapses in Trust Management

An earlier SIT report, submitted in August, reportedly flagged what it described as significant administrative and financial-management lapses within the temple trust.

However, that report reportedly found no evidence of financial impropriety at the leadership level and did not find direct involvement of former trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra in the alleged misappropriation. The latest SIT investigation is separate from the earlier preliminary inquiry and is being conducted under the directions of the Supreme Court.

Chargesheet Deadline Set for September 25

The September 25 deadline is significant because the statutory period of 90 days from the first arrest is due to expire on that date. If the chargesheet is not filed within the applicable period, the accused may become entitled to seek default bail under the relevant criminal procedure provisions.

With the investigation described as substantially complete, the SIT is now expected to place its findings and evidence before the competent court by the deadline. The chargesheet will provide the next formal stage in determining the allegations, evidence and individual roles in the case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2026 06:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).