Ram Temple Donations Case: Ayodhya Lawyers Refuse To Represent Accused, Bar To Decide On Monday

Lawyers in Ayodhya have said they are unlikely to represent the accused in the Ram temple donations case, leaving those named in the matter facing difficulty in securing legal defence locally.

According to local legal practitioners, there is a growing sentiment within the Ayodhya legal fraternity against taking up the case. The issue is expected to be formally discussed and a final decision taken in a general body meeting of the Faizabad Bar Association.

Bar Association president Kalika Mishra on Sunday said that the unanimous refusal to represent the accused will be put before the association’s general body meeting, which is likely to be held on Monday. The final call on the matter will be taken during that meeting.

A similar decision was taken

by the lawyers from Ayodhya back in 2005 when those accused of a terrorist attack at the Ram temple were produced before a Faizabad court.

Advocates of the Faizabad Bar Association are angry over the alleged theft of offerings at the temple and have united in the demand for stern action against all eight accused, lawyers from the city said.

Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said, “Our sentiments have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused. In this matter, a decision will be taken by the Bar Association president and the general body of the Bar. After this, the further strategy will be prepared.”

Advocate Vivek Kumar Singh remarked that police should not have presented such social criminals before the magistrate under heavy security arrangements. “Like in West Bengal, they should have first been among the public,” he said.

“Due to the act of a few people, residents of Ayodhya have got a bad name across the whole world. Stern action should be taken against these accused by adopting the bulldozer policy,” senior advocate Rajendra Chaudhary said.

Police on Sunday conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight people arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, police sources said.

Police teams, accompanied by local magistrates, carried out searches at the homes of the accused, including Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla and Ramashankar Yadav, the sources said.

The raids came two days after all eight accused were remanded in judicial custody till June 29 by a court in Ayodhya. Police are expected to seek their custodial remand when they are produced before the court on Monday.

(With inputs from PTI)