Ayodhya: The Ayodhya Bar Association on Monday announced that no advocate associated with the body would represent the accused in the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case. The association also warned that any lawyer who violates the decision would face a penalty of Rs 5 lakh.
The announcement was made by Ayodhya Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations made at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The accused are expected to be produced before the court through video conferencing.
The alleged donation scam surfaced after discrepancies were reportedly found between the cash collected from temple donation boxes and the amount deposited in the bank.
Bar Association announces boycott
Addressing members of the Bar Association, Kalika Prasad Mishra declared that no advocate would appear on behalf of the accused in the case.
He further stated that any lawyer found representing the accused would be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh, as per the association’s decision.
The announcement comes as the investigation into the alleged donation fraud gathers pace and the accused remain in judicial custody.
Demand for action against temple trust officials
The Bar Association also demanded action against Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra.
The association claimed that both individuals should be investigated in connection with the case. It also called upon them and others whose names have reportedly surfaced during the controversy to leave Ayodhya within three days.
Anil Mishra had submitted his resignation on Saturday following the emergence of the alleged donation fraud. However, reports indicate that his resignation has not yet been accepted.
Separately, Faizabad Bar Association General Secretary Sanjay Jaiswal said that if an FIR is not registered against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, the association would seek to initiate legal proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Supreme Court declines urgent hearing
Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged theft and embezzlement of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
The matter was mentioned before a vacation bench of Justices M. M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav.
When the petitioners sought an urgent listing, the bench questioned the urgency of the matter. The court subsequently directed that the petition be taken up after the Supreme Court reopens following the summer vacation on July 13.
No observations were made by the bench on the merits of the allegations.
FIR registered against eight accused
The Ayodhya Police had registered an FIR on Thursday against eight named individuals and other unidentified persons on charges of theft, criminal misappropriation and embezzlement of donations made at the Ram Temple.
According to officials, all eight accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, following the submission of a preliminary report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Uttar Pradesh government.
The alleged fraud reportedly came to light after temple authorities noticed discrepancies between the money collected from donation boxes and the amount deposited in the designated bank account.
Investigation continues
Police and investigating agencies are continuing to examine financial records, donation collection procedures and other evidence related to the alleged embezzlement.
Authorities have not announced any further arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The allegations against those named in connection with the case are yet to be tested in court, and legal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
Conclusion
The Ayodhya Bar Association’s decision not to represent the accused has added a new dimension to the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case. With the Supreme Court set to hear the plea after reopening and the police investigation continuing, the case is expected to remain under close public and legal scrutiny.