NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that a chargesheet has been filed in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, with the court permitting the petitioners to assist the local magistrate during the trial.A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant disposed of the petitions concerning the alleged theft of temple donations and directed the judicial magistrate to proceed with the case in accordance with the law.The Supreme Court also clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations.
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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the court that the alleged theft took place during the counting of donations at the temple. He said certain officials involved in counting the money would allegedly take the funds and either invest them elsewhere or deposit them into bank accounts.Taking note of the public interest involved in the matter, the court permitted the writ petitioners to assist the magistrate in the proceedings in the same manner as victims are allowed to assist criminal proceedings.The court clarified that its decision to allow the petitioners to participate in the trial should not be construed as an observation on the merits of the case.The proceedings will now continue before the local magistrate, who will examine the allegations in accordance with the law.