SC Petition Seeks FIR & CBI-Led Probe into Alleged Embezzlement at Ram Temple, Ayodhya

Here's the rewrite for Verdicto:

A petition was filed before the Supreme Court on Monday seeking registration of an FIR and a fair, time-bound investigation into alleged financial irregularities and embezzlement of funds at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya — and demanding that the probe be led by the CBI, not the state-constituted SIT.

Who Filed & What They Want

The petition has been filed by two practising advocates — Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav — seeking the following reliefs:

• Registration of an FIR into alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple funds 
• A CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT to investigate financial irregularities and other alleged illegalities in the affairs of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust
• Directions to the Centre, the UP government, and the Trust to constitute and operationalise regulatory, supervisory, and audit mechanisms to safeguard public interest
• Measures to maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors

The Core Argument: Why CBI, Not State SIT?

The petitioners' central argument is that the UP government's SIT — constituted on June 13 — is inadequate for the scale and complexity of the alleged wrongdoing.

Their reasoning is pointed:

"Such an inquiry would inspire greater public confidence than a preliminary probe conducted by a special investigation team comprising administrative officers who may not possess specialized credentials in criminal investigation."

The petition flags a critical procedural concern — the UP SIT has commenced its inquiry without registration of an FIR or any regular criminal case, which the petitioners argue undermines the legitimacy and legal foundation of the probe.

The petitioners contend that the alleged irregularities involve possible cognisable offences — matters that warrant a professional criminal investigation by a unified agency with the requisite expertise, resources, and institutional mechanisms for handling complex financial crimes.

The Sentiment Argument

Beyond the legal and procedural grounds, the petition invokes something deeper — the faith and sentiment of crores of devotees who contributed to the Ram Temple's construction over decades of struggle.

"Whether or not the reports regarding missing funds and other alleged irregularities concerning the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are ultimately found to be true, such reports have caused deep concern among the generations that struggled for the restoration of the glory of Ayodhya."

The petitioners argue that the very existence of such reports — regardless of their ultimate veracity — demands independent, credible verification to restore public confidence in the temple's administration.

Background: The UP SIT

On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an SIT following a request from the Ram Temple Trust itself, after allegations of misappropriation of donations surfaced publicly.

The SIT comprises:

• Vijay Vishwas Pant — Lucknow Divisional Commissioner
• Kiran S — Inspector General of Police
• Neel Ratan — Finance Department Special Secretary

The petitioners argue that while the SIT's constitution is a step, it falls short — both procedurally (no FIR) and institutionally (administrative officers rather than specialised criminal investigators).

Why This Matters

The Ram Temple at Ayodhya is not merely a religious site — it is the culmination of a decades-long movement that mobilised millions of Indians across generations. The allegations of financial irregularities within the Trust that manages it strike at the heart of public faith in the institution.

Earlier on Monday, the Allahabad High Court had separately declined an urgent hearing on a similar petition seeking a CAG audit of Ram Temple offerings — citing the UP SIT already being in place.

With this Supreme Court petition now filed, the Ram Temple funds controversy has officially entered the highest court in the land. Whether the SC admits the petition and what directions it issues — if any — will be closely watched by devotees, legal observers, and the political establishment alike.