Two practicing lawyers have petitioned the Supreme Court to mandate the registration of an FIR and launch a time-bound, CBI-led investigation into the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
The plea, submitted on Monday by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, calls for a multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The proposed team would look into allegations of financial discrepancies and other unlawful activities in the administration of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Additionally, the petitioners are seeking directives for the Union government, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the trust to implement strict regulatory and auditing mechanisms to safeguard public donations.
Call For Specialized Investigation
The petition points out that a state-level SIT, set up by the Uttar Pradesh government, has already commenced an inquiry without a formal criminal case or the filing of an FIR. The petitioners argued that a complex criminal and financial investigation requires a single, specialized agency equipped with the necessary resources and institutional framework to ensure public trust.
According to the plea, an inquiry led by administrative officers who lack specialized criminal investigation credentials may fail to inspire the same public confidence as a professional agency. The lawyers emphasized that the allegations of missing funds have caused deep concern among those who campaigned for the temple’s restoration, adding that the issue directly impacts the religious sentiments of millions of devotees.
Existing State-Level Probe
The state government’s current investigation was initiated on June 13, following a request from the temple trust itself after reports emerged concerning the misappropriation of donations.
This state-appointed panel is led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, alongside Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary of the Finance Department Neel Ratan.
