The Supreme Court directed the reconstituted SIT probing the alleged siphoning of Ayodhya Ram Mandir offerings to file a status report, with the CJI stating, “We are focused on having a fair, speedy and impartial investigation,” while prioritising a time-bound probe.
The Ayodhya Ram Temple has faced allegations of financial irregularities involving donations, jewellery, gold and other offerings from devotees. Legal petitions seek an independent probe, while the temple trust denies wrongdoing. The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member SIT to investigate the claims.
Former SC Judge Rohinton Nariman’s remarks on the Ram Mandir verdict have drawn sharp criticism from Mahant Raju Das, the head priest of Hanuman Garhi temple. He accused Nariman of hypocrisy and questioned his understanding of Hinduism, emphasizing that the Ram Mandir issue is central to India’s identity and unity, not simply a temple-versus-mosque debate.
Retired Justice Rohinton Nariman’s lecture on secularism in India’s Constitution critically addressed the Babri Masjid case and the controversial 2019 Ayodhya verdict. He emphasized the constitutional commitment to religious neutrality and criticized the judgment for undermining secularism, calling it a “travesty of justice.” Nariman urged for stronger safeguards for secularism amid increasing communal disputes.
The Supreme Court has today issued a notice to the Gujarat Government regarding former police officer Sanjiv Bhatt’s appeal against his conviction and life sentence in a 1990 custodial death case. Bhatt, along with other officers, was found guilty of custodial torture following communal riots. The case will be heard alongside related appeals.
Social media influencer Ajeet Bharti faces legal action for allegedly making false statements about Rahul Gandhi. The complaint accuses Bharti of spreading misinformation and inciting religious tensions. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The FIR includes sections related to promoting enmity between religious groups. The complaint emphasizes the potential disruption of public order and social harmony.
The court was informed that the defendants were charging a delivery fee for the supposedly free “Ram Mandir prasad.” Additionally, they were selling various Ram Mandir-related merchandise, collectibles, food items, and religious ceremony goods through websites bearing the marks “Khadi Earth” and “Khadi Organic.”
