Revive conspiracy charges against Advani, 13 others in Babri case: CBI to SC

NEW DELHI: "Conspiracy charges must be initiated against some BJP leaders" including LK Advani, Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi, the CBI today told the Supreme Court with regard to the Babri Masjid demolition case, ANI reported.

"Criminal conspiracy charges were dropped against 21 accused, including several BJP leaders on technical grounds," the CBI told the top court. "(Of them) 14 persons, including BJP leaders, acquitted of the charges under criminal conspiracy, should be tried in Lucknow Court," the CBI added.

There are two sets of cases. One is against against veteran BJP leader Advani and others, who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 when the Babri mosque was demolished.

The other case was against lakhs of 'karsevaks' (volunteers) who were in and around the disputed structure.

Earlier in the week, the apex court asked all parties to file their response in the matter.

The CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc. circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

It had subsequently invoked charges under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, which was quashed by the special court whose decision was upheld by the high court.