Lawyers from the Faizabad Bar Association recently held a protest in Ayodhya, submitting a police complaint that calls for an FIR against Champat Rai, the resigned general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, along with trust member Anil Mishra and temple official Gopal Rao. The complaint accuses these individuals of allegedly misappropriating donation funds intended for the Ram Temple.

The demonstration took place on Thursday, with lawyers marching from the court premises to the Ram Janmabhoomi police station. They demanded the registration of a case and a thorough and unbiased investigation into the allegations. The president of the Faizabad Bar Association, Kalika Prasad Mishra, highlighted that Krishna Mohan, another trustee and the complainant in the initial FIR, has also been implicated in this latest complaint.

During the protest, numerous lawyers chanted slogans urging the authorities to register an FIR against senior officials of the Trust. The bar association had stated that they would not represent any of the accused in this matter and warned members of a penalty of Rs 5 lakh for those who chose to do so.

Police Response and Investigations Underway

Police were reportedly challenged in managing the crowd during the march, leading to some lawyers claiming they suffered minor injuries during the commotion. At the Ram Janmabhoomi police station, many lawyers and media personnel congregated in the Station House Officer’s office, pressing for immediate action on their complaint. Police officials tried to reassure them that the complaint would be assessed, and necessary actions would follow according to legal protocols.

Mishra informed reporters that the association had formally requested the registration of an FIR against the three named persons regarding the alleged embezzlement of funds related to Ram Temple donations. He mentioned that Gopal Rao is involved in temple construction and related Trust activities. He expressed frustration over the police’s handling of the situation, emphasizing that if they did not receive the requisite documentation, they would continue their protests.

According to Superintendent of Police (City) Chakrapani Tripathi, the police have registered the complaint and it is currently under examination. The police later indicated that the complaint had been recorded in the General Diary at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station, and an acknowledgment receipt was issued to the complainants. A senior police official affirmed that legal protocols would be followed and appropriate actions would be taken based on the examination of the complaint.

Background of the Controversy

The dispute gained momentum after allegations of embezzlement were made by Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, on June 7. Following these accusations, a Special Investigation Team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government released preliminary findings on June 23. Consequently, an FIR was filed on June 25, leading to the arrest of eight individuals connected to the temple’s donation-counting process.

Investigators have also recorded statements from Champat Rai, who had previously offered his resignation in a bid to take “moral responsibility” for the ongoing situation. In the wake of these developments, security measures have been intensified around key locations in Ayodhya. Reports indicate that the security arrangements for several senior Trust officials, including Rai, have been bolstered as a precaution.

Four sub-inspectors have been assigned to the Teerth Kshetra office, alongside a full company of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Security sources have indicated that no relaxation of these measures is anticipated, particularly with an upcoming Trust meeting in Ayodhya addressing significant issues such as the resignations of Rai and Mishra. While there are no restrictions on media coverage, journalist access near the temple has been limited for the time being, with only select areas accessible for reporting.

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