AMID mounting outrage over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, the Faizabad Bar Association in Ayodhya on Monday announced that none of its members would represent the eight arrested accused and said it would move court for a CBI probe. Separately, a plea seeking a time-bound investigation by a CBI-led multi-disciplinary team came before the Supreme Court, but the vacation bench questioned the urgency and postponed the hearing until after the summer break, saying “heavens are not going to fall”. The lawyers’ body in Ayodhya passed a resolution warning that any member going against the boycott would face a Rs 5 lakh penalty and demanded that Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao -- all associated with the management of the temple but not mentioned in the FIR -“must leave” Ayodhya “within three days” or the entire city of Ayodhya would be blockaded and no one would be allowed to enter. Association president Kalika Prasad said that it will also move the High Court for a CBI probe. The Bar had taken a similar boycott decision in 2005, following a terrorist attack at the then makeshift Ram temple, when lawyers decided not to defend the accused. Finally, a lawyer from Lucknow represented the accused in the case. The eight accused, arrested last Thursday, were produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajat Verma, through video conferencing and were remanded in judicial custody for additional two weeks after the police did not seek their custody, Special Prosecution Officer Umesh Dubey said.

 

In the apex court, Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu refused an urgent hearing on a plea on the allegations and said the matter will be listed for hearing after the summer break. The court will reopen on July 13. “Heavens are not going to fall. What is the urgency,” the bench observed orally. The petition, filed by advocates Ajay Kumar Rai and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, said a CBI-led multi-disciplinary SIT should investigate the alleged financial irregularities and other purported illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The plea also sought directions to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh Government and the temple trust to constitute and operationalise such regulatory, supervisory and audit mechanisms as may be necessary to safeguard public interest and maintain the confidence of millions of devotees and donors. It said the issues involved not only concern the possible commission of cognisable offences but also directly affect the faith, sentiments and confidence of countless devotees and the public. Congress delegation to visit Ram temple: Amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of funds in the Ram temple, a high-level Congress delegation will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday and pay obeisance at the temple. The delegation will be led by party Congress State President Ajay Rai and include party MPs Kishori Lal Sharma (Amethi), Rakesh Rathor (Sitapur), Ujjwal Raman Singh (Prayagraj), and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki), according to a party statement.