Key Highlights
- Hearing Postponed: The Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing for the week of July 12 to July 17, rejecting requests for urgent intervention.
- SIT Legality Questioned: Petitioners claim the state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) began its probe without registering a formal FIR.
- High-Profile Probe: Eight people have been arrested so far, and the police have already questioned former Trust General Secretary Champat Rai following his recent resignation.
The Supreme Court of India has deferred a plea seeking an immediate, independent investigation into alleged financial discrepancies and donation thefts related to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
A vacation bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu ruled that the matter did not warrant emergency intervention during the court’s summer recess. The bench maintained that the case will be reviewed under standard judicial procedures during the week of July 12 to July 17, noting that no extraordinary situation would arise by waiting for regular court proceedings to resume.
The petition, moved by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, sought the immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the direct supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petitioners expressed strong apprehensions regarding the potential tampering of crucial financial evidence, an argument the apex court ultimately deemed insufficient for an expedited hearing.
Background and Procedural Controversies
The legal dispute centers on the financial operations of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body responsible for the construction and management of the temple. Allegations of large-scale irregularities and the theft of funds donated by devotees prompted the Uttar Pradesh state government to set up a localized SIT on June 13.
However, the petitioners have raised serious procedural questions regarding the state’s actions:
- Absence of an FIR: The petition alleges that the state-led SIT initiated its formal inquiry without registering a preliminary criminal case, challenging the legality of the administrative process.
- Interim Findings: Despite the procedural pushback, the state SIT moved swiftly, submitting its preliminary investigation report to the government on June 23.
Ongoing Investigations and Resignations
As the legal battle shifts to July, local law enforcement continues its criminal investigation. Police authorities have confirmed the arrest of eight individuals connected to the alleged donation thefts.
The investigation has also reached the highest echelons of the temple’s administration. Investigators recently recorded the formal statement of Champat Rai, the former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, who stepped down from his position amid the growing controversy.
Authorities have indicated that further questioning of top management is highly likely. Statements from other senior Trust officials, including Trustee Anil Mishra, may also be recorded if deemed necessary to map out the full extent of the financial discrepancies.
