Supreme Court Urged to Act Swiftly in Ram Temple Embezzlement Case #JusticeDelayed
Supreme Court Urged to Act Swiftly in Ram Temple Embezzlement Case #JusticeDelayed
Urgent plea to Supreme Court to secure digital evidence in the Ram Temple donation scam before it vanishes! Accused's lavish lifestyle exposed. #RamMandirScam
The Supreme Court is facing growing calls for urgent intervention in the ongoing Ram Temple embezzlement case. Despite repeated pleas from advocates, the Apex Court has not yet committed to an immediate hearing, citing summer vacations until July 12. This delay has sparked serious concerns, particularly regarding the preservation of crucial electronic evidence.
Advocate N.K. Goswami, one of the petitioners, made an urgent unlisted oral mention before a Vacation Bench headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh on Monday. He highlighted the critical nature of digital evidence such as CCTV footage, DVR data, QR-UPI logs, hundi registers, counting sheets, and bank records. Goswami warned that such evidence is vulnerable to being "quietly lost," erased, overwritten, or corrupted if not secured promptly. "Electronic evidence is unlike a stone inscription. A CCTV system does not wait for court vacations. A DVR does not respect a listing schedule," he stated, emphasizing that postponement in such a case could amount to a denial of justice.
Goswami clarified that he was not seeking a final hearing but merely a non-prejudicial preservation order to safeguard the integrity of the evidence. However, the Bench, without directly addressing his specific concerns about digital evidence, advised him to follow the standard procedure for mentioning and listing cases. This marks the second instance during the summer vacations where the Supreme Court has deferred an urgent hearing on the matter.
The embezzlement case revolves around the alleged misappropriation of donations meant for the Ram Temple, which is considered the property of a juristic person and a minor. Earlier, another petition filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav had sought a CBI or a multi-disciplinary Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged financial irregularities.
Adding another layer to the controversy, investigators are scrutinizing the lavish lifestyle of Anukalp Mishra, a key suspect in the 'donation theft' case. Reports indicate a significant improvement in his financial status, including recent property acquisitions like an SUV and a house worth Rs 65 lakh, alongside expenses for a lavish religious event. His brother-in-law, Lavkush Mishra, also arrested, is under similar financial scrutiny as authorities attempt to establish a clear money trail.
Meanwhile, the accused individuals face significant opposition locally. The Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya is poised to formalize a decision not to represent the eight individuals accused in the donation case. Local lawyers have collectively agreed not to defend them, citing "hurt sentiments" over the alleged theft of temple offerings. Police have already conducted raids and reportedly recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in connection with the case.
