Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donation Row | Faizabad Bar Association Resolves Against Representing Accused

The Faizabad/Ayodhya Bar Association today passed a resolution stating that none of its members will represent the 8 accused arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The resolution adds that if any Bar member still wishes to represent the accused, they must submit an application and deposit a contribution (sahyog dhanrashi) of ₹5 lakh per accused into the association's account.

Speaking to the media after passing the resolution, the Association President, Advocate Kalika Prasad Mishra, said that the committee will use that very money to pursue the case on behalf of the prosecution.

"A letter will also be written to the Central Bureau of Investigation. If the order for a CBI inquiry is not granted in the 2 petitions that are listed today before the Allahabad High Court, then the Ayodhya Bar Association will approach the Allahabad High Court seeking a CBI investigation. If no relief is obtained there, they will even approach the Supreme Court of India. For the registration of the FIR, action will be sought against Shri Champak Rai, Gopal Rao, and another person named Anil Mishra," he stated.

It may be noted that the resolution was passed hours after the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a plea seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged embezzlement of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Presently, two Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pleas seeking an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of donations and valuables at the Temple are pending before the Lucknow bench of the High Court.

Our readers may note that till now, 8 accused [Lavkush Mishra, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Manish Yadav, Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu, Subhash Chandra Srivastava, Avinash Shukla, and Karunesh Pandey] have been booked on charges including theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy under multiple sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

On June 27, they were remanded to judicial custody until June 29. They will be produced today before the special court dealing with corruption cases. According to media reports, a total of ₹79.85 lakh has been recovered from them so far.