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Ayodhya, June 29
Lawyers in Ayodhya have resolved not to represent the eight people arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Temple, saying the accusations have deeply hurt the sentiments of the local community. The decision was taken unanimously at a general body meeting of the Faizabad Bar Association on Monday. The association also warned that any member choosing to appear for the accused would have to pay a contribution of Rs 5 lakh per accused to the Bar Association.
Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra said the money would be used to assist in the prosecution of the case. “The sentiments of the people have been deeply hurt. It was unanimously decided that no member of the Faizabad Bar Association would defend the accused,” Mishra told reporters. The Bar Association also demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, who are associated with the management of the Ram Temple but are not named as accused in the FIR, leave Ayodhya. The lawyers warned that if the three did not do so within three days, they would organise a blockade of the city.
The association said it would seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged embezzlement. It plans to approach the Allahabad High Court for directions and, if necessary, move the Supreme Court. The Bar also announced plans to seek registration of an FIR against Champat Rai, Gopal Rao and Anil Mishra under Section 156(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows a magistrate to direct police to investigate a cognisable offence if no action has been taken on a complaint.
“We will first approach the police. If no action is taken, we will seek legal remedies through the courts,” Mishra said.
Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said the alleged theft of temple offerings had affected lawyers personally.
“The sentiments of all of us have been hurt by the alleged theft of temple offerings. Lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused,” he said.
The association said it had taken a similar stand in 2005 following the terrorist attack on the then makeshift Ram temple, when its members also refused to defend the accused.
The eight arrested — Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar, also known as Tinnu Yadav — were involved in counting cash and valuables donated at the Ram Temple. They have been remanded to judicial custody until June 29.
Police on Sunday carried out simultaneous searches at the homes of all eight accused as part of the investigation into the alleged embezzlement.
Responding to questions, Ravi Mishra, son of temple trustee Anil Mishra, defended his father, saying he had served the temple with dedication and was not involved in any wrongdoing.
“My father was entrusted with responsibility for the temple and worked there day and night,” he said, adding that temple affairs were never discussed at home.
Meanwhile, police prohibited media coverage outside the main entrance of the Ram Temple on Monday morning, with officers at the site citing official orders.
