Babri demolition: SC to hear petition against BJP veterans today

The Supreme Court (SC) will hear a petition in the Babri mosque demolition case opposing the dropping of criminal conspiracy charges against veteran leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today at 12 p.m.

The petition has been moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

There are two sets of cases - one against BJP veteran L K 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.

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.

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