Writ challenging CBI's role as prosecutor posted to July 31

Lucknow, July 26 (UNI) The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court today fixed the next hearing of a writ petition challenging the CBI's authority and role as a prosecutor in the Ayodhya demolition case to July 31.

A single judge bench comprising Justice Shailendra Saxena passed the order on a writ filed by Mr Moreshwar Save. He contended that CBI was a probe agency and as such could not prosecute the accused.

A CBI revision petition challenging the exoneration of former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani and 20 others in the Ayodhya demolition case is already pending before the High Court.

The CBI had challenged the Special Additional Sessions Judge (Ayodhya case) order exonerating Advani, former union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and Moreshwar Save.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had demanded these 21 people also be prosecuted in the case.

However, Mr Save submitted an application opposing the central agency's revision petition. He challenged the role of CBI as the prosecution agency in the case.

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