Ayodhya: In an unprecedented move, the Faizabad Bar Association has unanimously resolved that none of its members will represent the eight accused arrested in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case. The decision comes amid growing public outrage over the alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Bar Association announced that any advocate who chooses to appear for the accused would face a ₹5 lakh penalty. Association office-bearers also demanded a CBI investigation into the case, arguing that an independent probe would help ensure complete transparency.
In a further escalation, the lawyers’ body called upon senior Trust functionaries, including Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao, to leave Ayodhya within three days, warning of protests and a possible blockade if their demand was not met. It is important to note that none of these three individuals has been named as an accused in the FIR related to the alleged embezzlement.
The controversy stems from the arrest of eight individuals accused of allegedly siphoning off cash donations and offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the case, and authorities have begun examining financial records, bank accounts, and the donation management system to determine the extent of the alleged fraud.
Meanwhile, legal experts have questioned the Bar Association’s resolution. They point out that under the Advocates Act and professional ethics, every accused person has the right to legal representation, and blanket resolutions preventing advocates from appearing in a case may raise legal and ethical concerns.
The issue has also reached the judiciary. The Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement, while the SIT investigation ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government continues.
The alleged donation scam has sparked widespread political and public debate, with demands for greater transparency in the administration of one of India’s most prominent religious institutions. Investigators continue to scrutinize financial transactions and administrative procedures as they work to determine whether additional individuals may have been involved.
