NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions on July 13 seeking an independent and time-bound probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.According to the Supreme Court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana will hear three petitions after the apex court reopens on Monday.

The pleas seek a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged financial irregularities involving the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram temple.

Petitioners seek CBI probe, forensic audit

One of the petitions, filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, seeks a CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement along with a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the Trust's finances.Another petition filed by practising advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav has sought the constitution of a CBI-led multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities concerning the Trust's administration.The petition has also sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Trust to establish regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors.

"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 plea stated.The petition further argued that the Uttar Pradesh government's SIT began its inquiry without registration of an FIR or any regular criminal case, and said the allegations should be independently verified through a professional agency with expertise in complex financial investigations.A third petition, filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh, has sought a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe as well as a forensic audit of the Trust's entire finances.

Investigation underway, eight accused arrested

The hearing comes as the investigation into the alleged embezzlement continues in Uttar Pradesh.On July 7, an Ayodhya court granted one-day police custody of three of the eight accused arrested in the case — Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra and Karunesh Pandey.

Earlier, on June 29, a local court had sent all eight accused to 14 days of judicial custody.The Uttar Pradesh government had constituted a three-member SIT on June 13 following a request from the temple trust after allegations of misappropriation of donations surfaced.The SIT comprises Lucknow divisional commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, inspector general of police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan.The SIT's preliminary probe has pointed to serious security lapses in the temple's counting room and suggested that the alleged theft was "systematic" and repeated rather than isolated.The investigation reportedly found around 70 suspicious incidents between April 27 and June 5 after reviewing CCTV footage, in which counting staff were allegedly seen concealing bundles of cash in their clothes, pockets, shoes and other personal belongings.The preliminary findings also highlighted weaknesses in security arrangements, including the absence of frisking of staff at entry and exit points of the counting hall and inadequate monitoring of personal belongings.

Temple trust member backs investigation

Amid the ongoing controversy, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust member Mahant Dinendra Das Maharaj expressed confidence in the investigation and dismissed reports suggesting that the VIP darshan pass IDs of senior Trust functionaries had been blocked."There is no issue as of now. This is still in place. I have no details otherwise; the existing system still continues," he told news agency ANI while confirming that passes continue to be issued using trust general secretary Champat Rai's ID.On the investigation, he said, "We have faith in Ram Lalla, and the chief minister and the administration are fully aware and involved. We have full faith in the police; they are performing their duty.

They will catch the thieves in every way and will also punish them."The alleged embezzlement has triggered a political controversy in Uttar Pradesh, with opposition parties demanding accountability while chief minister Yogi Adityanath has assured strict action against anyone found guilty of misappropriating donations meant for the temple.