New Delhi: A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking registration of an FIR and a time-bound investigation into alleged embezzlement of funds related to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The plea sought a probe by a CBI-led multi-disciplinary special investigation team into alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities in the affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
It also sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust to establish regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of devotees and donors.
“Whether or not the reports regarding missing funds and other alleged irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are ultimately found to be true, such reports have caused deep concern among the generations that struggled for the restoration of the glory of Ayodhya,” the plea filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav said.
The petition said an SIT constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government had begun its inquiry without registration of an FIR or a regular criminal case.
It contended that allegations of missing funds and irregularities should be independently verified through a professional investigation by an agency with expertise in handling complex financial and criminal cases.
“Such an inquiry would inspire greater public confidence than a preliminary probe conducted by a special investigation team (SIT) comprising administrative officers who may not possess specialised credentials in criminal investigation,” the plea said.
It added that the issue involved possible cognisable offences and affected the faith and confidence of devotees.
The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted the SIT on June 13, following a request from the temple trust after allegations of misappropriation of donations.
The SIT comprises Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, inspector general of police Kiran S. and finance department special secretary Neel Ratan.
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