SC revives conspiracy charges against Advani, others in Babri case

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ BJP leaders L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti will face trial in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case as the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the CBI plea and restored criminal conspiracy charges against them. The court also clubbed the trial in the matter pending against the leaders and ‘karsevaks’ and said the proceedings should be completed in two years.

 “We have allowed the CBI appeal against the Allahabad High Court judgement with certain directions,” a Bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman said. The apex court, however, noted that Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh enjoys Constitutional immunity and can be tried only after he ceases to hold the office. Kalyan Singh was the chief minister of UP in 1992.

The court also gave significant directions, including that separate trials being conducted in trial courts at Raebareli and Lucknow will be clubbed and conducted in the capital of Uttar Pradesh only. Among the accused, Kalyan Singh, being Rajasthan Governor, would be tried on demitting the office as he at present enjoyed Constitutional immunity. The court ordered the case records of Rai Bareli case should be transferred.