The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Central Bureau of Investigation and other BJP and VHP leaders on a petition seeking quashing of charge sheet filed by the investigating agency on May 30 before a Rae Bareilly court in the Ayodhya case dropping conspiracy charge against them.
A bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu, Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Arun Kumar, while issuing the notices, adjourned hearing on another petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure seeking review of apex court's earlier order upholding the transfer of Ayodhya case trial from Lucknow to Rae Bareilly.
Advocate Wajahad Ansari, who challenged the May charge sheet filed by the CBI before the Rae Barelli court, filed the petition on which notices were issued to Advani and others.
Others to whom notices were issued included the BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Vinay Katiyar, Madhya Pradesh unit chief Uma Bharati, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmiya.
The court also rejected a petition asking the court to stay the trial in the Ayodhya case before the Rae Bareilly court.
The court adjourned hearing on a petition seeking review of its earlier order upholding transfer of Ayodhya case trial to Rae Bareilly, while asking the petitioner to amend its review petition.
The bench asked petitioner Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure 'to remove all offending portions' from the petition and said, "We will take it up for hearing only after you comply with this direction."
PTI
