Ayodhya lawyers refuse to represent Ram Temple embezzlement accused

Ayodhya Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra said that no lawyer will represent the accused in the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case. At an emergency meeting held by the Ayodhya Bar Association on Monday, June 29, 2026, Mr. Mishra said that if a lawyer represents an accused, he will be fined ₹ 5 lakh.

“No lawyer will represent the accused in the case and if anyone does, he will be fined ₹ 5 lakh,” he said. During the meeting, many advocates said that Ram Temple Foundation’s outgoing general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra and Gopal Rai should leave Ayodhya and if they fail to do so within three days, the entire city will be blocked and no one will be allowed to enter.

The First Information Report (FIR) stated that eight persons have been charged for alleged misappropriation of donations received at the Ram temple. They were arrested and sent to the courthouse until June 29.

The accused are being held under charges including theft, breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Among the accused arrested were close aides of Mr. Rai of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Foundation.

According to the FIR, the accused were involved in counting cash and valuables donated by devotees to the temple. Authorities alleged that the accused misused donations collected through boxes placed in the temple premises.