Ayodhya demolition case posted to Sept 19

Rae Bareli, UP, Aug 19: A local court today posted the Ayodhya demolition case hearing to September 19.

In the hearing, defence counsels Mahipal Singh Ahloowalia and Vimal Srivastava reiterated their plea that the CBI had neither the right to conduct the prosecution proceedings nor power to examine the witnesses.

They said their application dated April 15, 2006 in this regard was still pending before the court.

Contesting this claim, CBI counsel P K Chaube asserted that the premier investigation agency was fully empowered to ''lead the case to its logical end.'' The defence sought more time to file a rejoinder to the CBI's reply. The prosecution, on the other hand, pleaded that enough time had already been given to defence in the connection.

However, Chief Judicial Magistrate Gyanesh Kumar finally conceded the demand of the defence by granting them one more opportunity to file a rejoinder.

On an application from the defence, the court exmepted all the eight accused in the case from personal appearance in the court only for today.

The accused are former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani, former union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Sadhvi Ritambhara and Acharya Giriraj Kishore.

UNI