The Faizabad Bar Association in Uttar Pradesh has resolved not to represent any of the accused in the alleged embezzlement of funds linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The decision was taken during the Association's general body meeting on Monday, where members unanimously agreed that any lawyer who chooses to appear for the accused would face a penalty of ₹5 lakh.
Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said the alleged theft of temple offerings had deeply offended the legal fraternity. "The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments. All lawyers in Faizabad have agreed not to defend the arrested accused."
The resolution was announced publicly by Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra in a video that has since gone viral. Addressing fellow lawyers, he declared, "No lawyer will represent the accused in the case and if anyone does, a fine of ₹5 lakh will be imposed on them." His announcement was met with applause from members present at the meeting.
Beyond refusing legal representation, the Bar Association also demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao leave Ayodhya within three days. Lawyers warned that if the trio failed to comply, they would organise a blockade of the city.
Champat Rai, who recently stepped down as General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, and trustee Anil Mishra resigned from their respective positions following the controversy.
The Association further resolved to move the court under Section 156(3), seeking directions for the registration of an FIR against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao. It has also called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged financial irregularities.
The decision mirrors a similar stand taken by the Faizabad Bar Association in 2005, when it had refused to represent those accused in the Ram Mandir terrorist attack case.
The developments come as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to investigate allegations of theft and financial irregularities involving donations made to the Ram temple. Police have arrested eight people in connection with the case so far, while Champat Rai's statement was recorded after his resignation from the Trust.
The controversy first gained momentum earlier this month after a Samajwadi Party MLA alleged that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore collected as donations had been stolen or misappropriated. Opposition leaders subsequently levelled further allegations. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that valuables donated by devotees had also gone missing. Other Opposition leaders also alleged that large quantities of gold and silver, along with substantial cash donations, had been siphoned off, demanding accountability from the authorities.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, however, has strongly denied the allegations. In a statement issued over the weekend, the Trust maintained that all donations made by devotees were secure and properly accounted for. The Trust also 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", while reiterating that its financial records remained transparent.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking an independent probe into the allegations. The Bench stated that the matter would be listed for hearing after the court's summer recess.
