Indian Bar Association Fines Lawyers ₹5 Lakh for Defending Accused in Ram Temple Donation Case

Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad Bar Association have taken a strong stance against individuals accused of embezzling funds intended for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The association announced a ₹5 lakh fine for any member who agrees to represent the accused in the case.

During a general body meeting, the lawyers also issued an ultimatum, demanding that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, and Gopal Rao, prominent figures associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, depart from Ayodhya within three days. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in the city being blockaded.

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The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments.

This decision by the Faizabad Bar Association mirrors a similar stance taken in 2005 when they refused to represent those accused in the Ram Mandir terrorist attack case. "The theft of temple offerings has deeply hurt our sentiments," stated Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal, emphasizing the collective agreement among lawyers not to defend the arrested.

The association plans to file a motion with the court seeking a case registration against Rai, Mishra, and Rao, and has also called for a CBI inquiry. The move comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations of theft and irregularities concerning the temple funds, which surfaced earlier this month. Several opposition leaders have made significant claims regarding the amount of money and valuables allegedly stolen.

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No lawyer will represent the accused in the case and if anyone does, a fine of ₹5 lakh will be imposed on them.