PIL filed against PM, Sonia

INDORE: A petition has been filed in a court here seeking registration of criminal cases against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Law Minister Hansraj Bharadwaj for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus due to the controversial affidavits on the Ram Setu issue in the Supreme Court.

Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) affidavits questioning the existence of Lord Ram and the man-made bridge `Rama Setu', have hurt religious sentiments of Hindus, petitioner Suresh Sahu claimed in his complaint filed before Judicial Magistrate V S Muvel on Friday.

The Centre's claims were "vengeful" and the construction in the Ram Setu area was "inappropriate", Sahu's lawyer Deepal Rawa said.

"The Centre's move to withdraw the affidavits confirms that the crime has been committed," he said, adding that the petitioner sought registration of criminal cases against Singh, Gandhi, Bharadwaj and two senior bureaucrats.

The court has fixed hearing on the complaint on September 27.

The Centre had on Friday withdrawn from the apex court the two affidavits questioning the existence of Lord Rama and the Ram Setu, besides giving an assurance to re-examine the entire matter related to the Sethusamudram ship canal project.