Supreme Court to Review Plea Seeking CBI Probe into Ram Temple Donation Allegations
The Supreme Court has deferred listing a PIL seeking a CBI probe into alleged financial irregularities involving the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The bench directed the petitioners to mention the matter again on June 29 for further consideration.
Highlights
- •Supreme Court asked to list plea for a CBI probe into Ram Temple donation row.
- •Petitioners seek an independent investigation into alleged financial irregularities within the trust.
- •The Uttar Pradesh government previously formed an SIT to examine the misappropriation allegations.
- •The bench directed petitioners to mention the case again on June 29 for further processing.
The Supreme Court of India has deferred the listing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that demands a thorough investigation into alleged financial irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The petition seeks an independent, time-bound probe, potentially led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), into the reported embezzlement of donations intended for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
During proceedings on Thursday, a bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi heard a mention from the petitioner. The plea, submitted by legal practitioners Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, argues that a multi-disciplinary special investigation team should examine the purported financial mishandling within the trust's administrative affairs. The bench instructed the petitioners to approach the registry and to mention the matter again on June 29 for potential listing.
Demands for Independent Oversight of Ram Temple Funds
The petitioners have urged the Supreme Court to mandate that the central and Uttar Pradesh governments establish robust regulatory, supervisory, and audit frameworks for the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. This measure is intended to protect the interests of millions of donors and devotees who have contributed to the project. The plea asserts that recent reports of missing funds and financial mismanagement have caused significant concern among the public, regardless of the ultimate veracity of these claims.
According to the petition, an independent investigation by a professional, unified agency would foster greater public confidence than the current preliminary inquiry. The Uttar Pradesh government had previously constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13, following a request from the trust, to look into allegations regarding the misappropriation of donations. This SIT includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
The legal challenge emphasizes that the ongoing administrative probe is being conducted without the registration of a formal FIR or a regular criminal case. The petitioners argue that the gravity of the allegations, which impact the faith and sentiments of countless devotees, necessitates a rigorous investigation led by an agency with specialized expertise in complex financial crimes. As the matter awaits a formal date from the registry, it remains a focal point for those concerned with transparency and accountability in the management of the Ram Temple finances.
