Trouble is far from over for BJP leaders allegedly involved in Babri demolition

New Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are not out of the woods and may face trouble in connection with demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, 25 years ago, in view of the Supreme Court order given on Monday.

The apex court which heard the case on the day has fixed March 22 for another hearing. A final decision may be taken in the case on that day.

A petition for action against them was moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The petitioner has challenged the orders of the trial court and the Allahabad High court dropping conspiracy charges against them.

The petition was heard by a two-judge bench consisting of justice P C Ghosh and justice R F Nariman.

Chargesheets had been filed in connection with the demolition against 20 leaders of the BJP and other associated groups. The leaders included former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh and present union minister, Uma Bharti.

Notices have been sent to all of them. They have been asked to submit their responses before the next hearing of the case.

From the observations made by the Court it appears that it is not happy either with the CBI or the lower courts. For, it was of the view that the investigating agency has long delayed in filing the petition against their orders.

Cases in connection with the demolition being heard in Rae Bareli and Lucknow courts may be clubbed and heard by the apex court.

Two cases were filed in this connection-- one related to demolition and the other to conspiracy. Conspiracy charges were leveled under section 120 B of Indian Penal Code. These charges were dropped on technical grounds by lower courts, relieving these leaders.