New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (November 2) disposed of petitions seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.After being informed by the Uttar Pradesh government that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the donations theft case had filed a chargesheet against the eight accused, the court disposed of the writ petition and refused to offer any opinion of the merits of the case.“Since there is an element of public interest involved, liberty is granted to the writ petitioners to assist the ld. Magistrate on the same premise as the law enables a victim of crime to assist the court. It is however clarified, in order to ensure that no prejudice is caused, that this court has not expressed any opinion on merits,” the court’s order said, according to Live Law. The hearing also drew attention as its audio-video feed remained switched off for a significant part of the hearing because some of the petitioners appeared in person.‘The money was taken during counting’: SG MehtaSolicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana that the alleged theft had taken place during the counting stage.“Individuals who were counting have taken the money,” he said.He also argued that the accused has allegedly invested the stolen funds in property and made bank deposits. The SIT probe traced property purchases reportedly funded through the misappropriated money, as per Live Law.A sale deed recorded a payment of Rs 15 lakh, when the property was worth around Rs 50 lakh. Mehta argued that the difference was paid in cash from the funds taken from the temple. He added that, following an audit, all artefacts and chadhavas (offerings) by the people were intact, showing that the money was moved by the people involved in its counting process.Also read: In the Name of Ram: How the RSS-VHP Led the Cartelisation of the Trust and Divided Ayodhya’s SeersPetitions were permitted by the Supreme Court to participate in the proceedings to the extent permitted by law and assist the magistrate.SIT found 105 instances of unauthorised cash removalThe case filed before the apex court had sought an independent, court-monitored in inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the handling of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. They has also demanded an audit of the trust’s finances.As per the Live Law report, the SIT investigation uncovered 105 instances of unauthorised removal of cash from the donation-counting room at the Pilgrim Facilitation Centre (PFC) building within the temple premises.The financial statements, accounts, and movable and immovable assets of the eight accused, allegedly acquired through the theft, were also examined by the SIT.During the court’s last hearing on the matter on September 21, the Uttar Pradesh government had claimed that the SIT had substantially been wrapped up and that a chargesheet would be filed within the next two days.Allowing the petitioners to help in the case, the CJI said, “We will now direct the court to proceed in the matter. And we will grant you people also liberty wherever necessary, to continue to assist the court…it’s not simpliciter case of an accused versus state. It’s a case where some element of public interest is also involved. Therefore, we will grant you, as the law permits victims of a crime, to assist the court.”