SC to hear pleas over probe into Ram temple donations ‘theft’ row tomorrow

New Delhi, July 18: The Supreme Court is set to hear on July 20 a batch of pleas seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
As per the apex court’s cause list for July 20, four separate pleas related to the issue would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
On July 13, the top court agreed to hear these pleas and directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the matter, to submit a status report before it.
The bench had also issued notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust seeking its response in the matter. Narendra Kumar Goswami, one of the petitioners in the case, moved the top court seeking a CBI probe in the case.
He has also sought a Comptroller and Auditor General audit of the finances of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram temple.
Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who have filed one of the pleas in the top court, have said that a CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT should investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of the temple trust.
Besides seeking a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, the third petition filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh has sought a forensic audit of the entire finances of the Trust. Opposition parties have said they will raise the Ram temple alleged donation embezzlement issue during the Monsoon session of Parliament which is scheduled to start on July 20.
Probe widens in Ram temple donation ‘theft’ case
With eight people arrested so far in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, the scope of investigation has now widened to examine all the persons involved in the temple’s daily business.
Police sources said that nearly 50 people were engaged in counting currency notes donated by devotees at the temple.
These were recruited on the recommendations made by the Trust office bearers or others closely associated with them.
Investigators are now examining the backgrounds of these employees and whether any of them accumulated assets disproportionate to their known sources of income after joining the cash counting duty, sources said.
Police also confirmed that the probe has also brought under scrutiny a few senior Trust functionaries associated with the management and also some government functionaries who remain involved in the Trust’s functioning from time to time.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources also said that the probe will also examine other financial transactions as well, made during construction and purchases of land by the trust.
According to investigators, CCTV footage has provided direct evidence against six of the eight arrested accused, allegedly showing them concealing bundles of currency notes inside their clothes, pockets and shoes while counting donations at the temple’s Pilgrim Facilitation Centre. (PTI)