A court in Ayodhya has sent all eight accused in the alleged theft and embezzlement of donations from the Ram Temple to 14 days in judicial custody. The accused were produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajat Verma, through video conferencing from the district jail, after the expiry of their three-day judicial custody. The case has been posted for hearing on July 13.
The accused have been booked under charges including theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under multiple sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrested accused included former close aides of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai. According to the FIR, the accused were involved in the process of counting cash and valuables donated by devotees at the temple.
Officials alleged that the accused had misappropriated donations collected through boxes installed at the temple premises. The Faizabad/Ayodhya Bar Association has passed a resolution that none of its members will represent the eight accused. The association has also demanded the registration of a case against Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust outgoing General Secretary Champat Rai, trust member Anil Mishra, and temple construction in-charge Gopal Rao.
The association has threatened to block the entire city if the accused do not leave Ayodhya within three days. The Congress party has pushed its demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the matter. A Congress delegation, including State unit chief Ajay Rai and four Lok Sabha MPs, will visit Ayodhya on June 30 to take the blessings of Lord Ram. Mr. Rai has been placed under house arrest at a hotel in Ayodhya.
The International President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Alok Kumar, has stated that the proposal of the Ayodhya Bar Association appears to be political, and that even the worst of the criminals should get a defense.
