Here is why Allahabad High Court refused to entertain plea for CBI probe into Ram Mandir donation theft

The Allahabad High Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking an investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

A Division Bench of Justice Rajan Rai and Justice Manjive Shukla disposed of the plea filed by one Mohit Ashok since petitions with similar prayers are already pending before the Supreme Court.

Additional Advocate General Vinod Shahi and Chief Standing Counsel Shailendra Singh appeared for the UP government.

According to media reports, Ayodhya Police has so far arrested eight people in the case registered to probe the allegations of donation theft at Ram temple. The Indian Express reported that around ₹80 lakh was recovered from seven of the eight arrested accused.

At least two petitions are pending before the Supreme Court on the issue.

One plea, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, has sought directions to preserve electronic evidence and records.

That was mentioned last month before a vacation Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu but the bench declined urgent listing and asked the petitioners to furnish a copy of the petition to the court registry, observing that the matter would be considered in due course.

Another petition filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Sudhakar Singh has sought an independent probe into the financial affairs of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

That plea is also pending before the apex court.