Ayodhya lawyers may refuse Ram temple donation case accused defence

Ayodhya,UPDATED: Jun 28, 2026 23:43 IST

Lawyers in Ayodhya are unlikely to represent the eight people arrested in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, with the Faizabad Bar Association expected to take a final decision on the matter at a general body meeting on Monday.

Local legal practitioners said there was strong anger over the alleged theft of temple offerings, and bar members had united in demanding stern action against the accused. Police, meanwhile, conducted simultaneous raids on Sunday at the homes of all eight arrested in the case.

Kalika Mishra, president of the Faizabad Bar Association, said the final decision on the unanimous refusal to take up the defence of the accused would be taken at the meeting. Lawyers said a similar stand had been taken in 2005 when those accused in the Ram temple terrorist attack case were produced before a Faizabad court.

Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said, "Our sentiments have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused. In this matter, a decision will be taken by the Bar Association president and the general body of the Bar. After this, the further strategy will be prepared."

Advocate Vivek Kumar Singh said police should not have presented such "social criminals" before the magistrate under heavy security arrangements. "Like in West Bengal, they should have first been among the public," he said.

Senior advocate Rajendra Chaudhary said, "Due to the act of a few people, residents of Ayodhya have got a bad name across the whole world. Stern action should be taken against these accused by adopting the bulldozer policy."

Police sources said teams accompanied by local magistrates searched the homes of the accused, including Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla and Ramashankar Yadav. The raids came two days after a court in Ayodhya sent all eight accused to judicial custody till June 29. Police are expected to seek their custodial remand when they are produced before the court on Monday.

The case has triggered a strong reaction among Ayodhya lawyers, who are considering a formal decision not to appear for the accused, even as police continue their action in the alleged Ram temple donations embezzlement case.

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