The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed plea seeking urgent fair and time-bound investigation into Ram Mandir donation case.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu said the matter would be listed for hearing after the court’s summer break, observing that there was no immediate urgency. “Heavens are not going to fall… What is the urgency,” the bench remarked orally while refusing the request for an early hearing.
The petition, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, sought the constitution of a multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities related to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The petition also requested the registration of an FIR and sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the temple trust to establish appropriate regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of devotees and donors.
According to the plea, reports regarding alleged missing funds and other irregularities have raised concerns among those associated with the Ram Temple movement, making an independent investigation necessary.
The petition claimed that the SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government had already begun its inquiry without the registration of an FIR or any regular criminal case.
It argued that allegations involving financial transactions and possible criminal offences should be examined through a professional investigation by an agency equipped to handle complex financial and criminal probes.
The plea further stated that such an inquiry would inspire greater public confidence than an investigation conducted by an SIT comprising administrative officers.
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 surfaced regarding the alleged misappropriation of donations received at the Ram Temple.
The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.