Jagran Correspondent, Ayodhya: Amid the ongoing investigation into the Ram Mandir donation theft case, the Special Court for the Prevention of Corruption Act has decided to continue monitoring the probe.
Special Judge for the Prevention of Corruption Act Rajat Verma passed the order on a monitoring petition filed by the Faizabad Bar Association, which had raised concerns over the impartiality of the investigation. The court observed that it had been supervising the probe from the outset and would continue to monitor its progress.
Minister Shailendra Jaiswal had filed a petition alleging that several crucial facts had not been properly addressed in the investigation into the alleged theft of donations. He also sought an inquiry into the alleged roles of former trust officials Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. The petition raised questions regarding the recovery report, the amount of money involved, alleged overwriting of witnesses’ names and the overall impartiality of the investigation.
The investigating officer, however, rejected the allegations as baseless and stated that the probe was being conducted under the supervision of the SIT. At least eight accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case. The stolen cash, jewellery, foreign currency and coins were allegedly recovered from the trust’s locker.
A forensic auditor has also been brought into the investigation, with the progress of the probe being reported to the Supreme Court from time to time.
According to the investigating officer, the probe conducted so far has not uncovered any evidence linking Champat Rai, Anil Mishra or Gopal Rao to the alleged theft. The officer also said there was no apparent basis for making Krishna Mohan, the complainant in the case, an accused.
The investigating officer further alleged that the monitoring petition was an attempt to create a defensive position and had been filed merely as a countermeasure.
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The court observed that it has already been monitoring the investigation by examining the case diary and other relevant records, along with remand orders, police custody remand orders and other orders passed from time to time. In accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and the High Court, the court has continued to oversee the investigation and will continue to do so.