SC pulls up CBI for saying Advani committed 'national crime'

The Bench, however, allowed CBI to file documents which were referred to in the verdicts of the special court and high court.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 13, after Rao pleaded for some time to go through the files of the case.

Earlier on December 6, 2012, the apex court had asked a Rae Bareily court to expeditiously hear the Babri Masjid demolition case of Ayodhya against Advani and the others.

The CBI moved the apex court challenging the May 21, 2010 order of the Allahabad High Court, which had upheld a special court's decision to drop the charges against the leaders.

The High Court had at that time, however, allowed the CBI to proceed with other charges against Advani and others in a Rae Bareily court, under which the disputed structure falls.

The May 2010 order of the high court had said there was no merit in the CBI's revision petition against the May 4, 2001 order of the special court which directed dropping of criminal conspiracy charges against them.

There are two sets of cases – one against Advani and others who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya in December 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished, while the other case was against lakhs of unknown 'karsevaks' who were in and around the disputed structure.

The CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others under sections 153A IPC (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).

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.

... contd.

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