Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft case: Supreme Court declines urgent CBI probe

The Supreme Court of India refused to grant an urgent hearing on a public‑interest litigation that sought a CBI‑led, court‑monitored Special Investigation Team to probe alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The bench asked, “What is the urgency?” and ordered the plea to be listed after the court’s summer recess.

The Uttar Pradesh government has already constituted a three‑member SIT, which submitted a preliminary report indicating that eight individuals involved in counting cash and valuables had misappropriated funds estimated at ₹7–7.5 crore. All eight – including Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra and others – have been arrested and remanded to 14‑day judicial custody. Police raids on their homes recovered about ₹79.85 lakh and uncovered assets such as a farmhouse, a luxury home and a planned SUV purchase.

Investigators are recording statements from roughly 140 witnesses, including former trust officials Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, who have resigned. The timeline shows that a large portion of the missing money was recovered before a formal FIR was filed, prompting questions about procedural lapses. Political leaders, including Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary, have pledged strict action, while religious figures have decried the “plunder of faith”. The case remains under active investigation.