Supreme Court Plea Seeks CBI Probe Into Ram Temple Funds Row
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding a CBI-led investigation into alleged financial irregularities within the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The plea seeks formal criminal investigation procedures to ensure transparency and restore public confidence regarding funds donated for the Ayodhya temple.
Highlights
- •Petitioners have moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI-led probe into alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Temple trust.
- •The plea demands a time-bound investigation into reported embezzlement of funds related to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
- •Current oversight by a state-level Special Investigation Team is being challenged for lack of professional investigative expertise and absence of an FIR.
- •The petitioners request strict regulatory and audit mechanisms to protect public interest and donor confidence in Ayodhya.
A fresh legal challenge has surfaced regarding the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, as a petition was formally lodged in the Supreme Court on Monday. The plea calls for a court-monitored, time-bound investigation by a multi-disciplinary CBI special team into allegations of financial embezzlement involving the Ram Temple funds in Ayodhya.
The petitioners, advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, are seeking urgent judicial intervention to address concerns surrounding the management of donations. The core of the plea focuses on ensuring transparency and integrity in the trust’s financial affairs. It requests that the Supreme Court direct the central government, the Uttar Pradesh administration, and the trust itself to implement robust audit and regulatory mechanisms to protect the interests of donors and devotees nationwide.
Demanding Accountability in Ram Temple Fund Management
The legal filing emphasizes that reports of alleged fund mismanagement have caused significant unrest among the public and the generations who fought for the restoration of Ayodhya. The petition notes that while the Uttar Pradesh government did establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13—following a request from the trust—this preliminary probe is viewed by the petitioners as insufficient.
The SIT, which includes Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, inspector general of police Kiran S., and finance department special secretary Neel Ratan, is currently conducting inquiries without having registered an FIR or a formal criminal case. The advocates argue that an investigation into such high-stakes financial allegations requires an agency with specific expertise in complex financial crimes, rather than a team composed primarily of administrative officers.
The plea argues that a CBI-led investigation would hold greater credibility and inspire higher levels of public confidence. By seeking an independent, professional probe, the petitioners aim to ensure that any potential cognizable offenses are thoroughly investigated. This move highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the Ram Temple project and underscores the public demand for absolute transparency in the handling of massive voluntary contributions intended for the historic religious site.
