Donation row: No defence for accused, Champat Rai, 2 others asked to leave Ayodhya
The Faizabad Bar Association on Monday unanimously resolved that none of its members would represent the eight people arrested in the alleged Ram temple donation
The Faizabad Bar Association on Monday unanimously resolved that none of its members would represent the eight people arrested in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case. The lawyers' body also gave Ram temple functionaries Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao three days to leave Ayodhya, warning of a city-wide blockade if they failed to comply, as per PTI. The Bar further decided that any member who chooses to appear for the accused would have to deposit Rs 5 lakh per accused with the association. Read Full Story The resolution was passed at the association's general body meeting amid outrage over the alleged embezzlement of devotees' donations. Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra said no advocate belonging to the association would defend the arrested accused.
"If any lawyer still wishes to represent the accused, he or she will first have to submit an application and deposit Rs 5 lakh per accused with the Bar Association. The amount will be used to pursue the prosecution of the case," Mishra said, according to PTI. BAR ASSOCIATION SEEKS FIR Although Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao are associated with the management of the Ram temple, none of them has been named as an accused in the FIR. Despite this, the Bar demanded that they leave the temple town within three days, warning that lawyers would block Ayodhya and prevent people from entering the city if they did not comply. The association also resolved to seek registration of an FIR against the three under Section 156(3) of the BNSS.
Mishra said the Bar would first approach the police and, if no action was taken, move the courts. The lawyers also decided to seek a CBI probe into the alleged embezzlement by moving the Allahabad High Court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court. Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said the legal fraternity's sentiments had been deeply hurt by the alleged misappropriation of temple offerings, prompting the unanimous decision not to represent the accused. The eight arrested accused – Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav – were involved in counting cash and valuables donated at the Ram temple. They have been remanded to judicial custody until June 29.
HOUSES RAIDED ON SUNDAY Police on Sunday conducted searches at the residences of all eight accused as part of the ongoing investigation. Champat Rai and Anil Mishra were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts by PTI. However, Ravi Mishra, son of Anil Mishra, defended his father, saying he had worked tirelessly for the temple and had done nothing wrong. Meanwhile, media coverage outside the main entrance of the Ram temple was barred on Monday morning, with police citing official orders. Ends With inputs from ANI
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