Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The apex court has restored the charge of criminal conspiracy against BJP leaders and has directed to club the two cases relating to the Babri mosque demolition case. The court has set a deadline of two years for the conclusion of the trial. The Supreme Court had on April 19 transferred to Lucknow the Raebareli case for a joint trial in the two cases relating to the demolition.

A special CBI court in Lucknow had framed charges against BJP veterans L K Advani, M M Joshi, Union Minister Uma Bharti and nine others in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case.

CBI special judge S K Yadav passed the order on applications moved by former deputy prime minister Advani (89), ex-Union minister Joshi (83) and Bharti (58) seeking exemption from personal appearance for daily trials being held. These leader had filed the plea of exemption on the grounds old old age of Advani (89) and Joshi (83) and excessive travelling for Bharti (58). Though they are ordered to appear in court as and when required.

There are 34 accused in the case and the CBI court is conducting the day-to-day trial on the direction of the apex court. Besides the three senior BJP leaders, party MP Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Rithambara, VHP’s Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Dharam Das Maharaj, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Champat Rai Bansal, Baikunth Lal Sharma and Shiv Sena leader Satish Pradhan are the other accused against whom charges have been framed by the special court.

The disputed structure of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was pulled down on December 6, 1992. The Supreme court called the action of demolition a crime which shook the fundamental of secularism of the Indian Constitution. The other charges against them include indulging in deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, uttering statements leading to public mischief, rioting and unlawful assembly.

According to a lawyer, the maximum punishment which could be sentenced to Advani and others upon conviction in the matter, could be up to five years imprisonment or fine or both.