New Delhi, 29 June (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

The petition has been filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav. It seeks directions to the Central Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to establish an effective mechanism to prevent financial irregularities, stating that the issue concerns the faith of millions of devotees.

The petition states that irrespective of whether the allegations regarding the alleged theft of donations are ultimately found to be true or false, such reports have adversely affected the sentiments of people who have long supported the construction and development of the Ayodhya temple.

The petition further contends that the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Government commenced its inquiry without the registration of a First Information Report (FIR). It argues that the alleged disappearance of funds and other financial irregularities associated with the Trust should be investigated independently by an agency possessing expertise in handling complex financial and criminal investigations.

The SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh Government comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Special Secretary in the Finance Department Neel Ratan.

Earlier, another advocate, Anoop Awasthi, had also written to the Supreme Court requesting it to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and order an investigation under the Court's supervision. In his letter, he stated that the issue is closely linked to the faith of millions of people across the country.

The letter further noted that the temple is managed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which was constituted following the Supreme Court's 2020 judgment in the Ayodhya title dispute. It also referred to the consecration ceremony held on January 22, 2024, after which a large number of devotees have been visiting the temple daily and making donations.

The letter alleged large-scale financial irregularities and corruption in the handling of temple donations, claiming that some former employees and suspects were found to possess assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. It also stated that although the Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a three-member SIT to examine the matter, no FIR has been registered so far.

According to the letter, a mere administrative inquiry would not be sufficient, and there is a possibility that the matter could be suppressed over time unless an independent investigation is conducted under judicial supervision.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar