NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear on November 2 plea filed by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha seeking legal action against former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and others over alleged irregularities in donations and land transactions linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.According to news agency ANI, the plea alleges that donations collected for the construction of the temple were misappropriated and that land was illegally purchased in areas surrounding the temple.The plea also seeks the dissolution of the existing Trust and its complete reconstitution.A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the petition would be taken up along with other pending pleas concerning the same.Earlier, Rai had been given a clean chit by the UP-State SIT, which probed the donation theft. He is listed in the chargesheet as a key prosecution witness. Chargesheet names as accused only eight arrested counting agents and employees for criminal breach of trust and corruption.Rai informed investigators that he first learned of the irregularities via a phone call and video message while travelling. He subsequently reviewed CCTV footage and suggested lodging the formal police complaint.
What is the case?
The alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has triggered a political and administrative controversy. The issue came to light on June 7, when former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that around Rs 7-7.5 crore from the daily offerings made by devotees had been siphoned off. He alleged that people associated with the temple’s management were involved in the alleged misappropriation.The allegations soon gained political traction after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav backed the claims and sought accountability. A section of local BJP leaders also called for an investigation, putting the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple, under increased scrutiny.
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The concerns grew after Nripendra Misra, chairman of the temple construction committee and a trust member, flagged loopholes in the existing system for handling and counting cash donations. He recommended appointing a professional CEO to strengthen oversight and transparency.Trust general secretary Champat Rai initially rejected the allegations. However, amid mounting scrutiny, the trust sought an investigation by the Uttar Pradesh government.The SIT submitted an interim report within a week, flagging procedural weaknesses in the system used to manage temple donations and recommending structural reforms to strengthen monitoring and accountability.The probe subsequently led to arrests in connection with the alleged irregularities.