CBI COURT SUMMONS ADVANI, JOSHI, UMA

ASKED TO APPEAR IN PERSON IN BABRI CASE ON MAY 30

The CBI special court (Ayodhya case) on Thursday directed all 11 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case to appear before it on May 30 for framing of charges.

Judge SK Yadav directed senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Rithambara, Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Dharamdas, Champat Rai Bansal, Baikunth Lal Sharma and Shiv Sena leader Satish Pradhan to remain present in the court on May 30.

The court said no exemption from personal appearance would be allowed to anyone. The judge adjourned the court on Thursday as Pradhan was the only one out of the 11 accused who was present in the court.

On May 20, the CBI court had approved bail applications of Ram Vilas Vedanti, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Dharamdas, Champat Rai Bansal and Baikunth Lal Sharma.

Pradhan could not appear before the court on May 20 due to ill-health. He, however, appeared before the court on May 24 and was granted bail.

According to legal experts, Advani, Joshi, Bharti, Sadhvi Rithambara and Vishnu Hari Dalmai are yet to surrender before the court and secure bail and they are expected to complete all legal formalities on May 30 itself.

Last month, the CBI had challenged before the Supreme Court the decision of the Allahabad high court to uphold the trial court’s discharge order favouring BJP leaders. Due to the immunity provided by the Constitution to governors from legal proceedings, the CBI court did not issue notice to Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh to appear before it.

It was after the SC order that the CBI special court sent summons to all the accused in Babri Masjid demolition case.

THE JUDGE ADJOURNED THE COURT ON THURSDAY AS SATISH PRADHAN WAS THE ONLY ONE OUT OF THE 11 ACCUSED WHO WAS PRESENT IN THE COURT