AYODHYA — Echoing its historic 2005 resolution during the makeshift temple terror attack case, the Ayodhya Bar Association on Monday unanimously resolved to boycott all eight individuals arrested in connection with the alleged multi-crore embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple.
Following an emergency general body meeting of the legal collective, Bar Association President Kalika Prasad Mishra announced a strict blockade on legal representation for the accused. Mishra declared that no local advocate, from either the private sector or government panels, would be permitted to defend the arrested individuals. To ensure absolute compliance, the governing council has instituted a severe financial penalty, warning that any member who violates the collective resolution will face a fine of 5 lakh rupees. The association instead plans to form a dedicated team of advocates to actively assist the public prosecution in securing convictions.
In an escalation of local agitation, the legal fraternity directed their anger toward the leadership of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The association issued a public ultimatum demanding that former trust general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra, and construction in-charge Gopal Rao immediately leave the city. The lawyers warned that if the trio fails to vacate the spiritual town within three days, the association will organize a comprehensive blockade of Ayodhya, halting transit and restricting entry into the city lines.
The extensive legal boycott comes as the police custody for the eight arrested employees—Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava, and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav—concludes. The accused, who were primarily tasked with counting cash offerings and safeguarding high-value donations at the shrine, are being produced before a special corruption court amid heavy security deployment.
While Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao have not been named in the local First Information Report registered on June 25, the legal collective continues to question their administrative oversight. The Bar Association has formalised plans to seek judicial intervention under criminal procedure provisions to register a direct case against the senior leadership. Undeterred by the Supreme Court’s recent refusal to grant an urgent vacation bench hearing, the association plans to approach the Allahabad High Court and subsequently the top court to enforce a comprehensive, independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
