Ram Temple – Allahabad High Court to Hear PIL Seeking CBI Inquiry
Ram Temple – Ayodhya donation case developments remain under judicial and administrative focus as the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court is set to hear a public interest litigation on Monday seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged irregularities involving offerings made at the Ram Temple.
The petition, filed on June 12, has been listed before a division bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjeev Shukla. The plea seeks a detailed investigation into allegations linked to donations received through collection boxes at the temple complex.
Petition Seeks CBI Probe and CAG Audit
The PIL has requested the court to order a CBI investigation into the alleged theft and financial discrepancies. It has also sought an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to examine the handling of donations received by the temple.
According to the petition, authorities should be directed to register an FIR and conduct an independent inquiry into the matter. It further asks that the investigation be supervised by an officer of at least Superintendent of Police rank to ensure transparency in the process.
The plea also calls for a comprehensive examination of how cash, gold, silver and other offerings are collected, recorded, stored and managed by the temple administration.
Trust Meeting Scheduled at Temple Complex
The hearing comes on the same day that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold a meeting at 3 pm at the Ram Temple complex. The meeting is expected to take place amid continued discussion over the allegations related to temple donations.
Trust President Nritya Gopal Das is expected to chair the meeting. However, sources indicated that his participation may depend on his health condition.
Several trustees are expected to attend, including Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, Vishwaprasannatirth, Swami Parmanand Giri, Jagadguru Vasudevanand Saraswati, Krishna Mohan, Anil Mishra and General Secretary Champat Rai.
District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad, Central Government representative Prashant Lokhande and Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra are also expected to be present as ex-officio members. Trust member K Parasaran is likely to join the meeting through video conferencing.
Political Debate Intensifies Over Allegations
The issue has also led to a political dispute, with Opposition parties seeking a thorough investigation into the allegations. The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused its rivals of using the matter to target religious faith and the temple institution.
Trust member Dinendra Das earlier said the organisation would respect the outcome of the legal process. He stated that any person found responsible for theft at the place associated with Ramlala should face strict punishment under the law.
Ahead of the Trust meeting, trustee Krishna Mohan and Vishva Hindu Parishad central secretary Rajendra Singh Pankaj visited Vaidehi Bhawan in Ayodhya, where Govind Dev Giri Maharaj is currently staying.
Police Receive Permission to Question Accused
Meanwhile, the police investigation into the alleged donation theft has moved forward. Police sources said the Ayodhya Police have received court permission to question five of the eight accused who are currently in judicial custody.
The five accused identified for questioning are Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Ram Shankar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey and Manish Yadav. Their statements are expected to be recorded inside the jail as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The Ayodhya Sant Mandal has also expressed support for Champat Rai and appealed to the Trust not to accept any resignation from its general secretary while the matter remains under examination.