New Delhi/Ayodhya: Amid mounting outrage over the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations, the Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya on Monday announced that none of its members would represent the eight arrested accused, even as the Supreme Court said it will hear after the summer break a plea seeking a time-bound probe by a CBI-led multi-disciplinary team into the case.
The lawyers’ body passed a resolution warning that any member going against the decision would face a Rs 5 lakh penalty and demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao — all associated with the management of the temple but not mentioned in the FIR — “must leave” Ayodhya.
It warned that if the trio did not leave “within three days”, the entire city of Ayodhya would be blockaded and no one would be allowed to enter. Association president Kalika Prasad said that it will also move the high court for a CBI probe.
The Bar had taken a similar boycott decision in 2005, following a terrorist attack at the then makeshift Ram temple, when lawyers decided not to defend the accused. Finally, a lawyer from Lucknow represented the accused in the case.
The eight accused, arrested last Thursday, were produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajat Verma, through video conferencing and were remanded in judicial custody for additional two weeks after the police did not seek their custody, Special Prosecution Officer Umesh Dubey said.
In the apex court, Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu refused an urgent hearing on a plea on the allegations and said the matter will be listed for hearing after the summer break. The court will reopen on July 13.
“Heavens are not going to fall… What is the urgency,” the bench observed orally.
The petition, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, said a CBI-led multi-disciplinary special investigation team (SIT) should investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The plea also sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government and the temple trust to constitute and operationalise such regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms as may be necessary to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors.
It said the issues involved not only concern the possible commission of cognisable offences but also directly affect the faith, sentiments and confidence of countless devotees and the public.
The opposition sharpened its attack on the BJP, which has highlighted the Ram temple construction among its major achievements, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav urging “true Sanatanis” not to vote for the BJP or seek election tickets from the party, alleging that it had “betrayed Lord Ram”.
Speaking in the same vein, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal urged the people to defeat the BJP, alleging that they had “looted” the country and did not even spare Lord Ram.
The BJP, on its part, described the lawyers’ move as a “powerful message from Hindu society” and asserted that those accused of looting in Ayodhya are not only facing the full force of the law but also social boycott.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made it very clear that exemplary punishment will be meted out to the guilty and speedy justice will be ensured, the party said, adding the case will proceed as per the rule of law.
As the sparring between the BJP and the opposition parties intensified, the Congress said that its high-level delegation led by its Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday
The opposition party claimed that the State Bank of India had three months ago recommended the removal of officials posted at the donation counting centre at the temple and sought to know who was “protecting” them before the fund embezzlement came to light.
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Pawan Khera, Chairman (Media and Publicity Department), AICC, said the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple was only a brief glimpse and more such cases were yet to come.
Hitting out at opposition parties, Uttar Pradesh minister Dayashankar Singh said that their leaders “don’t believe in Lord Ram, have never visited the temple in Ayodhya, have taken no part in its construction and yet question people who have given up family life to serve the nation”.
Meanwhile, Faizabad Bar Association president Kalika Prasad said that the Bar Association would approach the Allahabad High Court to seek a CBI investigation and, if no relief is granted there, it would move the Supreme Court.
It would also seek registration of an FIR against Champat Rai, Gopal Rao and Anil Mishra under BNSS Section 156(3), which empowers a magistrate to order the police to investigate a cognizable offence if the police have not acted on a complaint.
“We will first approach the police for registration of the case, and if no action is taken, we will seek legal remedy through the courts,” Mishra said.
However, the brother of Champat Rai, who resigned as the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, defended him.
Speaking to PTI, Sunil Bansal, a resident of Nagina in Bijnor district, described the allegations against his brother as politically motivated, asserting that Champat Rai had given up “everything” for the RSS, the Ram temple movement, and the service of the country.
On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted the SIT on a request from the temple trust following allegations of misappropriation of donations received at the Ram temple.
The SIT comprised Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, IGP Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.
