The Allahabad High Court has rejected a plea for a CBI investigation into alleged donation misappropriation, citing similar cases already pending in the Supreme Court. Ayodhya police have already arrested eight suspects and recovered approximately ₹80 lakh in the case.
The Allahabad High Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations collected for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. A Division Bench consisting of Justice Rajan Rai and Justice Manjive Shukla disposed of the plea, explaining that the Supreme Court is already handling similar petitions regarding the management and financial records of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
Police Action and Recoveries
Local law enforcement has been active in investigating allegations surrounding the donation process. The Ayodhya Police have successfully arrested eight individuals linked to the alleged theft of donation funds. According to official proceedings, authorities have recovered approximately ₹80 lakh from seven of the accused. The Uttar Pradesh government provided updates on these investigative efforts through Additional Advocate General Vinod Shahi and Chief Standing Counsel Shailendra Singh during the court hearing.
Ongoing Supreme Court Matters
Legal scrutiny regarding the financial operations of the trust continues at the national level. There are at least two separate petitions currently pending before the Supreme Court. One of these filings seeks a formal mandate for the preservation of electronic evidence and records related to donation receipts, which was previously mentioned before a vacation bench. Another petition, moved by Member of Parliament Sudhakar Singh, advocates for an independent inquiry into the financial activities of the trust.
For investors and stakeholders, the core focus remains on the judicial oversight of the trust's financial transparency. Because the Supreme Court has already taken cognizance of related matters, future developments will likely stem from those proceedings rather than individual petitions in lower courts. Stakeholders may watch for any updates from the Supreme Court regarding the preservation of records or any directives it may issue concerning the administrative and financial governance of the trust.