Ram Mandir donation theft case: SIT’s ‘sealed’ status report will reach the Supreme Court, the entire country’s eyes are on the hearing today on July 20, know what are the demands of the petitioners.

The case of alleged misappropriation (theft) of donations and donations made by devotees in the grand Ram temple of Ayodhya has now reached the doorstep of the Supreme Court of the country. Today on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Supreme Court is going to hold a very important hearing on this sensitive matter. Following the strict directions given by the court last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government will present its detailed and sealed status report before the court today. If seen from a reporter’s point of view, this report will not only contain details of the current status of the investigation but also the formation of the SIT and the complete composition of the officers included in the team, on which the Supreme Court will decide its next stand today.

Supreme Court had issued notice to the Central, State Government and Trust

Considering the seriousness of this matter, the Supreme Court bench headed by Surya Kant had taken a big step in the last hearing. Taking cognizance of the petitions seeking an independent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, the court:

• Answer sought from three parties: The country’s top court has issued an official notice to the Government of India (Centre), the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and has sought their detailed reply on this entire controversy.

• Preservation of CBT footage and records: The petitions also demand safeguarding of the CCTV footage, audit trails and digital database of the donation room (counting room) of the temple, so that no evidence is tampered with.

What are the main demands of the petitioners?

This legal battle has started primarily after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two Supreme Court advocates. The petitioners argue that any kind of opaqueness in the fund management of an institution of national importance like Ram Temple and associated with the faith of crores of Hindus hurts public sentiments. Their main demands are as follows:

• Forensics and CAG Audit: The accounts of the temple trust should be forensically audited by an independent and professional agency and its financial review should be conducted by the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General).

• Investigation led by CBI: The petitioners have questioned the current SIT investigation of the UP government, claiming that it was initiated without a regular FIR. Therefore, they are pleading to hand over the command of this case to an independent multi-disciplinary team led by CBI.

Status of investigation so far: 8 accused have gone to jail

At the local level, the action of the police and SIT in this matter has progressed very rapidly. Initial investigation had confirmed major lapses and repeated thefts in the security circle related to the donation collection and counting unit of the temple, after which 8 accused involved in this racket have been arrested and sent to jail in judicial custody. These accused also include some former and contract employees of the temple. During the rescue and recovery operation, the SIT has so far recovered cash worth Rs 79.85 lakh from the accused. Now in the hearing to be held today, it will be clear whether the Supreme Court will allow this investigation to remain with the state SIT or hand over its command to some central agency.