AYODHA: The Faizabad Bar Association has refused to provide legal representation to the eight accused arrested in the alleged Ram temple donation embezzlement case, passing a resolution that also imposes a Rs 5 lakh fine on any member who appears for them.The resolution was passed at the association’s general body meeting, a day after several lawyers expressed unwillingness to appear for the accused, saying the alleged misappropriation of temple offerings had hurt their religious sentiments.During the meeting, lawyers also demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, all associated with the temple management but not named in the FIR, leave Ayodhya.They warned that if the trio did not leave within three days, they would block entry into the city.The Bar Association said it had taken a similar stand in 2005 after the terrorist attack on the then makeshift Ram temple, when its members had decided not to represent the accused in the case.Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said, “The sentiments of all of us have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused.”As per the resolution, any advocate appearing on behalf of the accused would be liable to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh.The eight accused- Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav, were involved in counting cash and valuables received as donations at the Ram temple.They were arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement and remanded to judicial custody till June 29.On Sunday, police also carried out simultaneous searches at the residences of all eight accused as part of the ongoing investigation.(With PTI inputs)
