In a repeat of 2005, when the Ayodhya Bar Association had decided not to represent the accused in the terrorist attack on the makeshift Ram Lalla temple, the lawyers of the associate have again decided not to defend the accused in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case.
After a meeting of the Bar Association governing body on Sunday, Kalika Prasad Mishra, president, Ayodhya Bar Association said, “No lawyer will represent the accused in the case and if anyone does, a fine of Rs 5 lakh will be imposed on them.”
In another dramatic decision, the lawyers asked Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai, and members Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao to leave Ayodhya.
The lawyers said if the three did not leave within three days, the city of Ayodhya would be blockaded and no one would be allowed to enter.
None of these three have been named as accused in the FIR in the matter.
The eight arrested in the case are—Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar, alias Tinnu Yadav. Their police remand will end today.
They were all involved in counting cash and securing valuables donated to the Ram Temple.
Ayodhya Bar Association has now admonished no lawyer should represent the accused, government or private.
The association further demanded CBI probe into the case and said it would take judicial recourse for the same.
Mishra said the association will go up to the Supreme Court of India in the matter.
Champat Rai and Anil Mishra have, however, resigned from their positions in the Trust which will take a call on the issue on July 7.
