Ayodhya Bar Association refuses to defend accused in Ram Temple donation embezzlement case
The Ayodhya Bar Association has announced that no lawyer will represent the accused in the Ram Temple donation embezzlement case and has demanded a CBI probe
Ram Temple donation embezzlement case: In a strong statement, the Ayodhya Bar Association has refused to provide legal representation to the accused in the Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, escalating tensions in the ongoing investigation.
The association announced that no lawyer will defend the accused in the matter and warned that any advocate taking up the case would face a penalty of Rs 5 lakh. The Ayodhya Bar Association took the decision after a meeting of its governing body on Sunday.
In a further development, the association also asked senior officials of the Ram Temple Trust, including general secretary Champat Rai and members Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, to leave Ayodhya. It warned that if they do not comply within three days, the city could face a blockade.
However, none of the three Trust members named have been listed as accused in the FIR related to the case.
Meanwhile, eight persons have already been arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations made to the Ram Temple. The accused include Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav. Their police remand is set to end today. Officials said the accused were involved in handling and counting donation cash and valuables.
The association has also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case and stated that it will pursue the matter through legal channels up to the Supreme Court if required.
According to association president Kalika Prasad Mishra, the lawyers’ body is firm on its stand and will not allow representation for the accused in any capacity, whether private or government-appointed.
In response to the controversy, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have reportedly resigned from their positions in the Ram Temple Trust, which is expected to take a formal decision on the matter in a meeting scheduled for July 7.