SC to Hear Pleas Seeking CBI Probe into Ram Temple Donations Row on July 13

New Delhi, July 10: The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions on July 13 seeking a fair and time-bound investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, including demands for a CBI probe and forensic audit of the temple trust’s finances.

According to the Supreme Court’s cause list, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will hear three petitions when the apex court resumes proceedings on Monday.

The petitions seek a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged financial irregularities involving the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram temple. They also seek a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit and a forensic examination of the Trust’s finances.

One petition, filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, seeks a CBI probe and CAG audit, while another by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav seeks the constitution of a CBI-led multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT). A third plea by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh also seeks a Supreme Court-monitored CBI investigation and forensic audit.

The petitioners have argued that an independent probe is essential to verify allegations of financial irregularities and maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors. They have questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT inquiry, stating that it began without registration of an FIR and lacks the specialised expertise required for complex financial investigations.

Meanwhile, an Ayodhya court on July 7 granted one-day police remand of three of the eight accused arrested in the alleged donation theft case. Earlier, on June 29, all eight accused were remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 following allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ram temple. The panel comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.