Babri masjid demolition case: SC pulls up CBI
CBI’s submission that BJP leader L. K. Advani and others committed a ‘national crime´ drew Supreme Court’s ire
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) submission in the Babri Masjid demolition case that senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader (BJP) L. K. Advani and others had committed a ‘national crime´ drew a sharp reaction from the Supreme Court which asked the agency not to use such a language till the case is decided by the courts.
“Please don’t say that it is a national crime or a matter of national importance. We are yet to decide it. Until we or trial court decide this way or other, you can’t make such statements," a bench headed by Justice H. L. Dattu said. The bench made the observations after senior advocate P. P. Rao, appearing for CBI, submitted that leaders of BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were involved in a “national conspiracy" which was reflected in the Rath Yatra and its a case of “national crime".
Rao’s submission came while challenging the verdicts of Special CBI court and Allahabad High Court dropping conspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar and Murli Manohar Joshi.
The others against whom charges were dropped included Satish Pradhan, C. R. Bansal, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Sadhvi Ritambhara, V. H. Dalmia, Mahant Avaidhynath, R. V. Vedanti, Param Hans Ram Chandra Das, Jagdish Muni Maharaj, B. L. Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save.
It had subsequently invoked charges under Section 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) which was quashed by the Special Court whose decision was upheld by the high court. Bal Thackeray’s name was removed from the list of accused persons after his death recently. While upholding the special court’s order, the High Court had said the CBI at no point of time, either during the trial at Rae Bareily or in its revision petition, ever stated that there was offence of criminal conspiracy against the leaders.
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