Ayodhya case hearing put off

Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge J P Shrivastava on Friday postponed the hearing in the Babri Masjid demolition case till November 21.

The court had earlier fixed Friday for the personal appearance of all the 49 accused in the case, including Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Kishinchand Advani, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Ashok Singhal.

Advani, Kalyan Singh and 15 others had sought exemption from personal appearance in the court. They cited various reasons, including 'official preoccupation'.

Former BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi, Singhal and Bajrang Dal leader Vinay Katiyar, MP, were among those present in the court on Friday.

The accused were summoned by the designated court for hearing the chargesheet filed against them, which was to have been read out in their presence.

After reading out the chargesheet, the accused were to be asked whether they pleaded guilty or not, said senior CBI special counsel P K Chaube.

In case of their denial, trial proceedings were to begin, he said.

Tight security arrangements were made by the state government in the city as well as around the court. But for some sporadic slogan-shouting reportedly by Shiv Sena activists, the proceedings went off peacefully and nothing untoward was reported from anywhere in the city.

UNI