The petitioner also sought to direct the Trust to place before the Court a complete statement of all donations received since its constitution.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP from Buxar, Sudhakar Singh has moved the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe into the finances of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, citing recent allegations of financial irregularities, an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, and the reported recovery of a cash trail amounting to ₹77 lakh.
The Public Interest Litigation, filed on July 3 , states that it does not seek any interference with religious practices or temple rituals. Instead, it seeks judicial intervention to ensure transparency and accountability in the Trust’s secular financial administration.
According to the petition, the reliefs sought are confined to the management of the Trust’s financial affairs and are aimed at safeguarding public donations and ensuring an independent investigation into the allegations.
Among the principal prayers, the petitioner has sought transfer of the ongoing investigation from the state police to the Central Bureau of Investigation under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court.
The petition also seeks the appointment of a temporary, court-monitored Oversight Committee comprising retired judicial officers and financial experts to oversee the Trust’s secular financial affairs during the pendency of the investigation.
Additionally, the PIL requests directions to preserve all financial records, including physical documents, digital ledgers, UPI transaction logs and bank statements, to prevent any alleged tampering with evidence.
The petitioner has further sought an order restraining the Trust from undertaking major investments, entering into substantial contracts or taking significant financial decisions without the prior approval of the proposed Oversight Committee.
The plea also seeks a comprehensive forensic audit of all donations, transactions and assets of the Trust by an independent agency. It further requests that the Trust be directed to publish audited financial statements and donation records on its official website in the interest of public transparency.
The plea requests that, pending completion of the investigation, no major financial or administrative decision involving utilisation of Trust funds, award of substantial contracts, creation of third-party rights, alienation of Trust assets, investments or other significant financial commitments be undertaken except with the approval of the proposed Court-monitored Oversight Committee.
Additionally, the petition seeks a comprehensive forensic audit of the Trust’s accounts, donations, offerings, bank transactions and financial records by an independent agency of unquestionable credibility, with the audit report to be placed before the Supreme Court.
The PIL also asks the Court to direct the Trust to maintain complete transparency by publishing audited financial statements, details of donations received, utilisation of funds and other financial information on its official website, while protecting confidential or sensitive donor information where necessary.
Further, the petitioner has sought a direction requiring the Trust to place before the Court a complete statement of all donations and contributions received since its constitution, including cash donations, bank transfers, digital payments, foreign contributions, donations in kind, gold, silver and other valuables, along with details regarding their accounting, custody and utilisation.
As an interim measure, the petition seeks ex parte ad interim orders constituting the Court-monitored Oversight Committee and restraining the Trust from taking major financial, administrative or policy decisions, including award of contracts, investments, alienation of assets and appointment to key administrative posts, without prior approval of the Committee until completion of the investigation or further orders of the Court.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had declined urgent listing of two other petitions seeking Court-monitored investigation into the misappropriation of donations for Ram Mandir.
The petition has been filed through Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput and Advocate-on-Record Jaswanthi A.
Case : Sudhakar Singh v. Union of India and others | Writ Petition (Criminal) Diary No. 39221/2026,
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