Ram Mandir Donations Row: Faizabad Bar Refuses to Defend 8 Arrested Accused

The Faizabad Bar Association on Monday unanimously resolved not to represent the eight persons arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations offered at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The resolution was passed at the Association's general body meeting, which also warned Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Ex- General Secretary Champat Rai, Ex-Trust member Anil Mishra, and Accounts Officer Gopal Rao to leave Ayodhya within three days, failing which the lawyers said they would launch a blockade.

Notably, the Trust on Saturday announced that Rai and Mishra had stepped down from their respective positions.

The accused are presently in judicial custody in the case being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The Bar Association's decision follows reports that local lawyers were unwilling to appear for the accused in view of the allegations relating to the alleged theft of temple offerings. A day before the meeting, Bar Association president Kalika Mishra had said that the final decision on whether advocates would collectively refuse to defend the accused would be taken by the Association's general body.

Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal had said that the alleged theft of temple offerings had hurt the sentiments of the legal fraternity. "Our sentiments have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused. In this matter, a decision will be taken by the Bar Association president and the general body of the Bar. After this, the further strategy will be prepared," he had said, as per media reports.

The development comes as the investigation into the alleged donation embezzlement continues. On Sunday, police conducted searches at the residences of all eight accused and examined their assets as part of the probe. Police teams accompanied by local magistrates searched the houses of several accused, while investigators widened the inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of cash and valuables donated at the temple.

The eight accused were arrested after an FIR was registered on the basis of the SIT's preliminary findings. They face allegations of theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with the alleged embezzlement of temple donations. Police are continuing their investigation into the case.

Notably, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to accord urgent listing to a public interest petition seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement of the donations. Refusing the request for an immediate hearing, the Bench observed that there was no urgency warranting out-of-turn listing and said the plea would be taken up in July.

The controversy has also reached the Allahabad High Court. Earlier this month, a public interest litigation was filed before the Lucknow Bench seeking an independent investigation into the alleged donation row. The petitions sought, among other reliefs, a CBI probe into the alleged misappropriation of cash and valuables offered by devotees, besides directions for steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of temple donations.