The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions on July 13 seeking an independent, time-bound investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
According to the Supreme Court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana will take up three petitions when the apex court resumes proceedings on Monday.
The petitions call for a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged financial irregularities linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body responsible for managing the affairs of the Ram temple.
One of the pleas, filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, seeks a CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement along with an audit of the Trust's finances by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Another petition, moved by practising advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, has sought the formation of a CBI-led multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities related to the administration of the Trust.
The petition also urges the court to direct the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust to establish regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms aimed at protecting public interest and preserving the confidence of millions of devotees and donors.
"Whether or not the reports regarding missing funds and other alleged irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are ultimately found to be true, such reports have caused deep concern among the generations that struggled for the restoration of the glory of Ayodhya," the plea stated.
The petition further contends that the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government began its inquiry without registering an FIR or a regular criminal case, arguing that the allegations should instead be independently examined by a specialised agency experienced in handling complex financial investigations.
A third petition, filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh, has also sought a Supreme Court-monitored CBI investigation along with a forensic audit of the Trust's complete financial records.
The hearing comes as the investigation in Uttar Pradesh continues to gather pace.
On July 7, an Ayodhya court granted the police one day's custody of three of the eight accused arrested in the case — Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey. Earlier, on June 29, a local court had remanded all eight accused to 14 days of judicial custody.
The Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 after the temple trust requested an investigation following allegations of misappropriation of donations.
The panel comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.
According to the SIT's preliminary findings, the investigation has uncovered serious security lapses inside the temple's counting room and suggests the alleged theft was "systematic" and recurring rather than an isolated incident.
After examining CCTV footage, investigators reportedly identified around 70 suspicious incidents between April 27 and June 5 in which counting staff were allegedly seen hiding bundles of cash in their clothes, pockets, shoes and other personal belongings.
The preliminary report also pointed to deficiencies in the security system, including the lack of frisking of staff at the entry and exit points of the counting hall and inadequate monitoring of personal belongings.
Amid the controversy, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation and rejected reports claiming that the VIP darshan pass IDs of senior Trust officials had been blocked.
"There is no issue as of now. This is still in place. I have no details otherwise; the existing system still continues," he told news agency ANI while confirming that passes continue to be issued using trust general secretary Champat Rai's ID.
Commenting on the probe, he said, "We have faith in Ram Lalla, and the chief minister and the administration are fully aware and involved. We have full faith in the police; they are performing their duty. They will catch the thieves in every way and will also punish them."
The alleged embezzlement has sparked a political row in Uttar Pradesh, with opposition parties demanding accountability, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured that stringent action will be taken against anyone found guilty of misappropriating donations meant for the temple.
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