Babri case: HC issues notice to Advani

The Allahabad High Court has asked Advani to appear before it on Feb 25.

In a decision that may revive proceedings against him, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday issued notice to former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to appear before it on February 25 in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

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Giving his order on a criminal revision petition filed by the CBI and former Faizabad District Magistrate RN Srivastava, Justice MA Khan also issued notices to former union ministers Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Shiv Sena leader Moreswar Save.

The twin petitions were filed against the May, 2001 order of the special trial court in Lucknow, which had dropped proceedings in the Ayodhya case against 21 respondents, including Advani and Joshi. One of the respondents, Ramchandra Paramhans, is no more.

The High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to get the notices published through newspaper advertisements.

Earlier, 12 of the respondents had represented through their counsels, while on behalf of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, his advocate appeared on Tuesday. Next hearing in the case will be held on February 25.