Lawyers of the Faizabad Bar Association staged a protest march in Ayodhya on Thursday and lodged a police complaint demanding an FIR against former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, trust member Anil Mishra and temple official Gopal Rao for alleged misuse of donation funds.
The lawyers walked from the court complex to the Ram Janmabhoomi police station and called for registration of a case along with an impartial inquiry. Association president Kalika Prasad Mishra said another trustee, Krishna Mohan, who filed the first complaint in the matter, has also been named as an accused.
Participants raised slogans seeking an FIR and investigation into senior trust functionaries. The association had earlier declared it would not represent any accused and warned of a Rs 5 lakh penalty for any lawyer who agreed to do so.
Police faced difficulty controlling the crowd, and some lawyers reported minor injuries from pushing. At the station, lawyers and journalists urged immediate registration of the case while officers said the complaint would be examined and action taken according to law.
Mishra told reporters the complaint targets the three named persons for alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations and seeks a fair probe. Rao is involved in temple construction and trust work.
He told PTI a written complaint had been submitted. If no copy is provided, the protest would continue. The FIR names Champat Rai, Anil Mishra, Gopal Rao and Krishna Dev. The association will monitor action at the police station.
The body said it would launch further agitation if police fail to register a case.
Superintendent of Police (City) Chakrapani Tripathi said the complaint had been received and was under examination. It was later entered in the General Diary and an acknowledgement was issued.
A senior officer said the complaint was being reviewed per law and appropriate steps would follow. If an FIR is warranted but not registered, action could be taken against concerned officials.
The controversy began on June 7 after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged misuse of temple donations. A state SIT submitted preliminary findings on June 23, leading to an FIR on June 25 and arrest of eight people linked to donation counting. Rai’s statement was recorded after he offered to resign on moral grounds.
Security has been increased at key sites in Ayodhya. Some senior trust functionaries, including Rai, received enhanced protection. Four sub-inspectors and a Provincial Armed Constabulary company were posted at the trust office.
Media access remains unrestricted but journalists are currently allowed only up to barricades near the temple.
The lawyers’ protest, examination of the complaint and tightened security form part of ongoing developments in the temple donation controversy that has already produced an FIR, arrests and a wider probe.
