Ram Temple Donation Row: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) seeking a CBI probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ram Janmabhoomi
Temple in Ayodhya.
A division bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjeev Shukla rejected the petitions, which had sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of offerings collected through the temple’s donation boxes, along with an audit of the donations by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The first PIL was filed by advocate Mohit Ashok on June 12, followed by separate petitions by advocate Motilal Yadav and another petitioner. The High Court had earlier directed that all three petitions be heard together.
Apart from seeking a CBI investigation, the petitioners had urged the court to direct registration of an FIR, ensure a fair and impartial probe under the supervision of an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police, and order a detailed inquiry into the collection, accounting and management of cash, gold, silver and other offerings received at the temple.
Representing the government, AAG Vinod Shahi and CSC Shailendra Singh argued that a similar petition is already pending before the Supreme Court; therefore, there was no justification for the matter to be heard here. With the dismissal of the PILs, the matter will not proceed further before the Lucknow Bench.
The court’s order comes as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold a key meeting later on Monday at the temple complex amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of donations. The meeting, to be chaired by Trust President Nritya Gopal Das, is expected to be attended by several trustees and ex-officio members, although there is uncertainty over Das’ participation due to his health.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the alleged donation theft is continuing. Ayodhya Police have obtained court permission to question five of the eight accused currently lodged in jail, with their statements expected to be recorded as part of the probe.
On July 3, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple arrived at the temple premises to carry out further investigation in the case.
Eight people associated with the temple’s donation collection and counting process have been arrested so far, while the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ contributions is continuing.
