A letter petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by advocate-on-record Anoop Prakash Awasthi, demanding a court-monitored investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
The representation seeks directions for the registration of an FIR and a court-monitored investigation into allegations of misappropriation of donations and offerings made at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The representation was addressed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and filed by Advocate-on-Record Anoop Prakash Awasthi. It urged the Apex Court to order an independent probe by a premier investigating agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court.
Stating that the issue concerns the faith and confidence of millions of devotees, the representation said recent reports of alleged irregularities, misappropriation or disappearance of donation funds linked to the Ram Temple have caused concern among devotees in India and abroad. It noted that the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). However, it argued that the absence of a formal criminal investigation and FIR has raised questions about the institutional response to the matter.
The representation contended that the SIT, by itself, is inadequate. It said a large section of devotees may continue to harbour doubts about the independence of the inquiry unless it is conducted under the supervision of a Constitutional court. Seeking judicial intervention, the representation urged the Supreme Court to direct a CBI investigation. It also sought the creation of a mechanism to preserve and protect donated funds, and called for an examination of all aspects relating to the collection, accounting, custody, management, and disbursement of donations received by the temple.
The representation stressed that a continuing court-monitored mechanism for the preservation and protection of money and property donated by devotees may be necessary to ensure complete transparency and maintain public confidence.
“In matters where public faith in institutions is at stake, the confidence of millions of devotees can be restored only through an investigation that is demonstrably independent, comprehensive and insulated from every possibility of influence, pressure or conflict of interest,” the representation noted.
It added that while state government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT), the absence of a formal criminal investigation and FIR has raised questions about the institutional response to the matter.
“I do not seek to prejudge any individual, institution or authority. Nor do I intend to cast any aspersions upon the Trust, whose members have rendered invaluable service. However, the gravity of the allegations and the extraordinary significance of the institution involved require a level of transparency and credibility beyond ordinary standards,” the representation stated.
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