In a latest development in the Babri Masjid demolition case a special CBI court on Saturday issued summons to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Kalyan Singh, directing him to appear before it on September 27.

The court is conducting the trial of accused persons, including senior BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and others for allegedly conspiring to demolish the mosque at the disputed Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

Advertisement

Taking note of the information given by the members of bar association that Singh’s term as Rajasthan Governor expired in the first week of this month, special judge SK Yadav passed the order on a pending application that the CBI had moved on September 9.

After serving a full five-year term as governor, the 87-year-old leader, who was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, rejoined the BJP on September 9.

The court had taken up the application and asked the CBI to produce papers that the term of Singh as the governor has expired. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had then sought time to produce the papers, saying it did not receive any documents from its headquarters.

On the information given by the members of bar association, the court issued the summons to Singh for appearing before it on Friday.

Moving the application, CBI pleaded that Singh was chargesheeted in 1993. It further pleaded that the Supreme Court had in April 2017 said Singh could not be brought in as an accused to face trial due to the constitutional immunity granted to governors under Article 361 of the Constitution.

The top court had, however, allowed the CBI to move for summoning of Singh as an accused as soon as he ceased to be the governor. All the accused are on bail in the case, which is being conducted on a day-to-day basis, on the directions of the top court.

The Babri Majid case pertains to the criminal trail against those who conspired and executed to bring down the mosque in Ayodhya on Dcember 6, 1992. The trial covers two cases, one against senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Uma Bharti, and seven leaders of Sangh parivar including Murli Manohar Joshi for making inciting speeches. The another case involves Kar sevaks who tore down the mosque, promoted hatred against a religion and rioting.