CBI court grants bail to Advani, others in Babri Masjid demolition case

The defence counsel moved a “discharge application” in which the accused claimed not guilty in the December 1992 razing of the mosque at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, reports said.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel  submitted an application, seeking discharge of all the accused, saying they were not guilty of conspiring to pull down the mosque.

If the CBI court rejects the application, then charges will be framed against  Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and other accused.

The leaders were summoned to the court to frame charges against them.

They had pleaded with the court to exempt them from personal appearance but the court denied their request on May 25.

This was the first time they appeared before the court after the apex court quashed the Allahabad High Court judgment that had dropped charges of criminal conspiracy against them.

Apart from Uma Bharti, LK Advani, and MM Joshi, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, VHP’s Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Ram Vilas Vedanto, Sadhvi Ritambara, Mahant Nritya Gopaldas, Mahant Dharamdas, Champat Rai and Satish Pradhan also appeared before the court.

The Supreme Court had last month allowed restoration of conspiracy charges against the  BJP leaders,  making them to face trial.

Before being implicated in conspiracy behind the demolition of Babri masjid, these leaders were only facing a trial for making provocative speeches from a platform near the mosque before it was pulled down by the volunteers owing allegiance to Hindutva forces.

The Supreme Court has asked the special court to frame fresh charges against Advani and a dozen other leaders within one month and deliver its verdict within two years.