Faizabad Bar Association refuses to defend Ram Temple donation scam accused
The lawyers' body also plans to seek an FIR against former trust officials and push for a CBI investigation as the SIT continues its probe
As the political spat over the alleged embezzlement of donations for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya heats up, the Faizabad Bar Association on Monday (June 29) announced that none of its members would represent the eight accused arrested in the case, warning that any lawyer violating the decision would face a penalty of Rs 5 lakh.
The decision was taken during a general body meeting on Sunday (June 28) after the lawyers indicated that they were unwilling to defend the accused, stating that the alleged misappropriation of temple donations had hurt their sentiments.
"The sentiments of all of us have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused,” said Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal.
‘Leave Ayodhya in three days’
According to a report in the Hindustan Times, during the meeting, the lawyers demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao, three persons whose names have cropped up in the case, leave Ayodhya within three days, adding that if they refuse to do so, there will be a blockade in the city.
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Rai was the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. He recently resigned along with Mishra, another official, after the irregularities came to light.
The Bar Association said it would move the court under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking directions for the registration of an FIR against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. It will also press for a CBI probe in the case.
SIT probe continues
The announcement comes as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its inquiry into the alleged theft and financial irregularities involving temple funds. So far, police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. Investigators have also recorded the statement of Champat Rai after he stepped down from the temple trust.
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The controversy erupted earlier this month after a Samajwadi Party MLA alleged that donations worth around Rs 7-7.5 crore had either been stolen or embezzled. The allegations gained further political attention after former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that valuables offered by devotees had also gone missing.
Trust denies wrongdoing
"Diamonds and precious stones that devotees offered to God have been stolen, ₹200 crore in cash has been stolen, and even 200 kilograms of silver have been stolen," he said last week during his Ayodhya visit.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust has denied any lapse, saying devotees' donations remain safe and fully accounted for. In a statement, the Trust said it was "shocked, hurt, and deeply saddened by the incidents that have come to light in Shri Ram Temple (Ayodhya) over the past few days,” reported the Hindustan Times.
(With agency inputs)