New Delhi, July 10 -- The Supreme Court will hear on July 13 a batch of petitions seeking a fair and time-bound investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. According to the court's website, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana will take up three pleas when the court reopens on Monday.
The petitions seek a court-monitored CBI probe, while one filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh also seeks a forensic audit of the finances of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami has additionally sought a Comptroller and Auditor General audit of the Trust's accounts.
Another plea by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav has sought a CBI-led multidisciplinary SIT to examine alleged financial irregularities and asked for regulatory and audit mechanisms to protect public interest and maintain devotees' confidence. The petition said reports of missing funds had caused "deep concern" and argued that an independent professional investigation would inspire greater public confidence than the state SIT.
On July 7, an Ayodhya court granted one-day police remand for accused Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey. All eight accused were sent to 14-day judicial custody on June 29 after the Uttar Pradesh government formed an SIT on June 13.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.