RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into alleged donation theft linked to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. He also sought directions for the temple trust to disclose all donations received since February 2020.
RJD MP Sudhakar Singh filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into allegations of “donation theft” related to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
He has also requested that the Court direct the temple trust to submit a complete statement of all donations both money and valuables received since the Trust’s formation on February 5, 2020.
Through the PIL, filed by Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput and Advocate-On-Record Jaswanthi A, Singh further seeks transfer of the investigation relating to the administration, accounting, and use of donations and offerings received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The plea requests that the probe be carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Court’s supervision, or through any other independent mechanism that the Supreme Court considers appropriate.
The PIL argues that the Trust should be kept away from managerial decision-making during the pendency of the donation-related case, until the trial concludes and the accused if found guilty are duly punished.
The plea states,
“Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir occupies a unique place in the constitutional and cultural life of the nation. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was constituted pursuant to the directions flowing from the judgment of this Hon’ble Court. Since its constitution, crores of devotees from every part of the country and abroad have made offerings towards the Temple out of faith and devotion. Such offerings are dedicated to the Deity and are held in trust. Those entrusted with their administration discharge fiduciary obligations of the highest order and are expected to maintain complete transparency, accountability and integrity,”
Recently, the Supreme Court declined to urgently list a petition that sought registration of an FIR and a court-monitored investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations collected by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya.
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu heard a request made for urgent mentioning.
The counsel told the court,
“Allegations are very serious…the way State is dealing casts doubts, “
That petition was filed jointly by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav.
They urged the Supreme Court to order a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation into alleged financial irregularities connected with the functioning and administration of the Trust.
The petitioners requested directions for registration of an FIR and for formation of a multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the CBI, arguing that an independent probe is necessary to strengthen public confidence in the investigation.
Meanwhile, another PIL has also been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a forensic audit of donations made to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. It also seeks preservation of all evidence relating to temple offerings, and the creation of a nationwide transparency framework for handling donations received by temples of national importance.
Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petition has been moved by Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami of the Supreme Court, who describes himself as a devotee of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman.
The plea highlights concerns about secular administration of temple donations and contends that offerings made by devotees are sacred trust property belonging to the deity an idea recognized in law as the deity is treated as a juristic person.
It is also reported that an FIR has already been registered in connection with the alleged embezzlement of devotees’ donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.
The police arrested all eight persons named in the case, including the officer responsible for cash counting at the temple’s pilgrim facilitation centre.
According to the police, the arrested persons include the cash-counting in-charge and others alleged to have been involved in handling, collection, and transportation of donation money.
The accused have been booked for offences including criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and other charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators suspect the alleged misappropriation occurred over a sustained period through manipulation of the donation collection process.
Case Title: Sudhakar Singh vs. Union of India and others