The Supreme Court on Monday rejected to list urgent pleas demanding a CBI-led multi-agency inquiry into the alleged theft of contributions collected at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, commenting that “heavens are not going to fall” if the case is brought up after a few days.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu said the petitions might be listed in due course after the registry and the competent authority was satisfied with the urgency of the situation.
The heavens will not fall if the petition is heard after the Supreme Court resumes regular functioning’, said the bench. Ajay Kumar Rai, one of the petitioners appearing in person, pressed for an expedited hearing and expressed apprehensions over the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities.
The state was represented by senior additional attorney general and senior lawyer Sharan Dev Singh Thakur during the mentioning.
The court was hearing a mention made in petitions filed by attorneys Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav jointly seeking filing of a FIR and fair, independent and time-bound probe into alleged diversion of contributions received at the Ram temple.
The bench said the subject may be listed after the summer holiday when the petitioner insisted that the court should take up the matter quickly. “The court can list it right after it resumes regular functioning,” the bench added.
According to information on the Supreme Court website, the petition is scheduled to be posted for July 24. The highest court would start functioning in full on July 13, whereas only a few benches sit during the partial working days.
What the plea asks for
Another petition with identical concerns was also put before the bench by Advocate NK Goswami, who has filed a separate plea. Goswami reported that he went to the registrar and was told that the issue will be posted only once the court starts working normally.
The bench told him to pursue the case before the registrar and satisfy the bench as to the need for the matter to be listed out of turn when he requested urgent instruction from the bench.
The development comes days after another bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi had instructed one of the petitioners to address the matter on June 29 after it was told that the plea had been numbered but no date of hearing set.
The petitions seek instructions to a multi-disciplinary special investigation team headed by the CBI to look into alleged financial irregularities and other alleged illegalities in the matter of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
They also want to get orders from the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust to set up regulatory, supervisory and audit measures to protect public interest and ensure public trust in the management of donations by devotees
The petitioners have contested the adequacy of the probe team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government at the Trust’s request on June 13, arguing that a probe by administrative officers without the involvement of a central agency would not inspire the same level of public confidence as an investigation by a specialised agency equipped to handle complex financial and criminal enquiries.
Donations row: The probe so far
The Supreme Court has declined to provide urgent listing even as the probe by the state has picked up pace.
Uttar Pradesh Police conducted simultaneous raids at the houses of all eight suspects detained in connection with the alleged theft of temple donations on Sunday as detectives expanded the inquiry to follow the money route, investigate suspected assets and gather further evidence.
A complaint was filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of Trust on June 25 on the basis of which the accused were detained on June 26. During the inquiry, ₹79.80 lakh was collected from seven of the eight suspects, police said, adding the probe is now on the lines of whether the claimed earnings were converted into movable or immovable assets or routed through family and acquaintances.
The Trust reported on June 27 that it had received the resignation letters of its general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, while the continuing inquiry into suspected irregularities of temple contributions continued.
The State Bank of India also said on Sunday that it was fully working with the Special Investigation Team and has offered all help required in connection with the current probe concerning the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.