Ram Temple Donation Row Deepens: Lawyers Demand FIR Against Champat Rai, Anil Mishra; Protest Erupts In Ayodhya
The controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donation funds intensified on Thursday after members of the Faizabad Bar Association took out a protest march in Ayodhya and formally sought the registration of an FIR against former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trust member Anil Mishra, temple official Gopal Rao and Krishna Mohan, who had earlier filed the first complaint in the case.
Hundreds of lawyers marched from the court premises to the Ram Janmabhoomi police station, raising slogans and demanding a transparent investigation into the alleged financial irregularities. The protesting advocates submitted a written complaint urging police to initiate criminal proceedings against the named individuals and conduct an impartial probe.
The lawyers maintained that the investigation should cover all those allegedly linked to the handling of temple donations. The protest also comes days after the Bar Association announced that its members would not represent any accused connected to the donation case and warned of disciplinary action against lawyers who choose to defend them.
The demonstration briefly created a tense situation outside the police station as a large crowd gathered to press for immediate registration of the case. Some lawyers alleged they sustained minor injuries during the commotion while police personnel worked to manage the gathering.
Faizabad Bar Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra said the association would continue its agitation if the police failed to register an FIR. He stated that the police had accepted the written complaint and assured the protesters that it would be examined in accordance with legal procedures.
Police later confirmed that the complaint had been entered into the General Diary at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station and that an acknowledgement receipt had been issued to the complainants. Officials said the allegations are currently under examination and further action will be taken as per the findings of the preliminary scrutiny.
