New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a court-monitored CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT probe
into the alleged theft and embezzlement of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. When advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav mentioned the matter before the vacation bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu, the bench asked, "What is the urgency?" As the petitioner's counsel attempted to explain, saying, "The way the state is dealing with it...", the bench directed that the matter be taken up immediately after the Supreme Court reopens following the summer vacation on July 13, declining to accord it an urgent listing. In their petition, the advocates have sought a time-bound investigation by a CBI-led multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT), which they say should be constituted under the supervision of the Supreme Court. They have also sought directions for the preservation and production of CCTV footage, DVR recordings, digital payment logs and transaction records related to donations and offerings received at the temple. The petition urges that all such records be preserved until a CBI-led SIT takes over the investigation. "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 and pain among the generations that struggled for the restoration of the glory of Ayodhya," the petition states. "Generations have fought to restore the glory of Ayodhya. It is not a simple matter; it has pan-India ramifications affecting the sentiments of millions of devotees," the petitioners said. "What we have demanded is that the matter be investigated by a competent agency having the required expertise," they earlier told Times Now Digital. Meanwhile, the Ayodhya police have registered an FIR against eight individuals and other unidentified persons on charges of theft, misappropriation and embezzlement of money and valuables donated to Lord Ram. All eight accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, two days after the SIT submitted its preliminary findings to the Uttar Pradesh government. Most of the accused were involved in counting donations. One of them is the driver of Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Trust. The alleged fraud came to light after temple officials noticed discrepancies between the cash collected from donation boxes and the amount deposited in the bank. To verify their suspicions, officials installed hidden cameras inside the room where donations were counted, in addition to the existing CCTV surveillance system. According to police sources, footage recorded over nearly a week allegedly showed some employees deliberately positioning themselves in front of the visible CCTV cameras to obstruct their view. During this time, another employee was allegedly seen removing currency notes from prepared cash bundles and concealing them inside his clothes. The alleged acts were reportedly captured by the hidden cameras.
