RJD MP Moves Supreme Court Seeking CBI Probe Into Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Finances
Public Interest Litigation seeks court-monitored investigation, forensic audit, and oversight committee over alleged financial irregularities in Ram Temple donations
A Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament, Sudhakar Singh, has approached the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleges financial irregularities in the management of donations received for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and seeks judicial intervention to ensure transparency and accountability.
The petition makes it clear that it does not challenge the religious practices, rituals, or administration of the Ram Temple. Instead, it confines its prayers to the Trust’s secular financial management, arguing that donations made by millions of devotees must be subject to transparent accounting and independent scrutiny.
Among the principal reliefs sought is the transfer of the ongoing investigation from the state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court. According to the petitioner, an independent central agency would inspire greater public confidence and ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.
The PIL also requests the constitution of a temporary court-monitored Oversight Committee comprising retired judges, financial experts, and persons of impeccable integrity. The proposed committee would supervise the Trust’s secular financial and administrative affairs while the investigation remains pending.
In addition, the petition seeks preservation of all financial evidence, including account books, bank records, digital ledgers, UPI transaction logs, CCTV footage, emails, servers, and other electronic records, to prevent any alleged destruction or tampering of evidence. It also asks the Court to direct the Trust to place before it a complete statement of all donations and contributions received since its constitution.
The petitioner has further prayed for a comprehensive forensic audit of all donations, bank transactions, assets, and financial records by an independent agency. The audit report, according to the plea, should be submitted before the Supreme Court. The petition also seeks directions requiring the Trust to periodically publish audited financial statements, donation details, and utilisation of funds on its official website while protecting the privacy of individual donors.
Pending completion of the investigation, the PIL seeks an interim restraint on the Trust from taking major financial or administrative decisions, including awarding substantial contracts, making significant investments, alienating assets, creating third-party rights, or appointing key officials without prior approval of the proposed Oversight Committee.
The fresh petition comes shortly after the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing in another PIL seeking a CBI-led investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation controversy. At that time, the Court observed that there was no extraordinary urgency warranting immediate listing and indicated that the matter could be heard in the normal course after the Court resumed regular functioning.
The plea has been filed against the backdrop of an ongoing SIT investigation into alleged financial irregularities and reported recovery of a cash trail of ₹77 lakh from accused persons connected with the case. Recent developments have also included a direction for a re-audit of the Trust’s accounts, further intensifying scrutiny over the handling of temple donations. It is important to note that these allegations remain under investigation, and no judicial finding has yet established any wrongdoing by the Trust or its office-bearers.
The Supreme Court is expected to consider whether the circumstances warrant transferring the investigation to the CBI, ordering a forensic audit, or issuing any interim directions. The outcome could have significant implications for judicial oversight of charitable and religious trusts managing large public donations while balancing institutional autonomy with financial accountability.
