Ayodhya: The Faizabad Bar Association on Monday escalated the controversy surrounding the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case by issuing a three-day ultimatum to senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders associated with the temple's management, including Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, to leave Ayodhya.

The lawyers' body also resolved that none of its members would represent the eight accused arrested in the case, warning of a Rs 5 lakh penalty against any advocate who violates the decision.

The resolutions were passed at the association's general body meeting, where members said the alleged theft of devotees' offerings had deeply hurt public and religious sentiments.

The association further warned that if Rai, Mishra and other VHP functionaries linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust failed to leave the city within three days, it would launch a democratic agitation and blockade against them.

Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal said the legal fraternity had unanimously decided not to appear for the accused.

'The sentiments of all of us have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused,' he said.

The developments come as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations made at the Ram Temple.

Eight people have been arrested so far, while investigators have reportedly recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh during the investigation.

The case has triggered widespread political debate and scrutiny over the temple's financial management.

The controversy has also fuelled speculation over the future of the temple trust's leadership. Reports in recent days claimed that Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra had offered to resign on moral grounds.

However, VHP leaders have denied that any pressure was exerted on Rai to step down and accused opposition parties of politicising the issue.

The Bar Association noted that it had adopted a similar stand in 2005, when lawyers in Faizabad refused to represent those accused in the terrorist attack on the makeshift Ram temple at the Janmabhoomi site, citing the sensitivity of the matter.