NEW DELHI, June 25: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed petitioners seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities involving donations received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to mention their plea again on June 29 for further consideration.
The matter was brought before a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi during the mentioning session, where one of the petitioners requested an urgent hearing of the public interest litigation (PIL).
The petition has been filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who have sought directions for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and a comprehensive, time-bound investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
During the brief hearing, the petitioner informed the bench that the PIL had already been registered and was free from procedural defects, but no hearing date had been assigned. The counsel requested that the matter be listed on June 29.
Responding to the submission, the bench observed that the court registry would process the case if all procedural requirements had been fulfilled. When informed that no deficiencies remained, the judges advised the petitioner to formally mention the matter again on Monday, June 29.
The petition calls for the constitution of a multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to examine allegations relating to the management and administration of the temple trust. According to the plea, an independent agency with expertise in financial and criminal investigations would be better equipped to examine the issues raised.
The petitioners have also sought directions to the Central Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government and the temple trust to establish stronger regulatory, supervisory and auditing mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of public donations.
In their plea, the petitioners argued that reports concerning alleged missing funds and financial discrepancies have generated concern among devotees and donors across the country. They maintained that a thorough and impartial inquiry is necessary to preserve public confidence in institutions associated with one of India’s most significant religious projects.
The petition further states that while the Uttar Pradesh Government has already constituted a Special Investigation Team to look into the allegations, the inquiry began without the registration of a formal criminal case or FIR. According to the petitioners, this raises concerns about the scope and effectiveness of the ongoing examination.
They contend that allegations involving complex financial transactions require investigation by a professional agency possessing specialised expertise in forensic auditing, financial analysis and criminal inquiry. Such an approach, the plea argues, would ensure greater transparency and credibility in the findings.
The petition also highlights the broader public interest involved in the matter, noting that the temple occupies a unique place in the religious and cultural sentiments of millions of people. Any allegations relating to the management of donations, it argues, should therefore be examined through a robust and independent process.
Earlier this month, on June 13, the Uttar Pradesh Government constituted a Special Investigation Team following a request from the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust after allegations of misappropriation of temple donations surfaced.
The three-member SIT includes Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team has been tasked with examining the allegations and submitting its findings to the government.
The Supreme Court is expected to consider the matter further if the petitioners formally mention the case before the bench on June 29. The outcome could determine whether additional directions are issued regarding the scope and nature of the investigation sought in the PIL.