Babri Masjid demolition: Next hearing on May 20

The defence counsel pleaded that CBI was only an investigating agency and had no right to prosecute.

A special court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition cases against senior BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi and six others on Tuesday fixed May 20 next for further hearing on the matter.

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Special Judge VK Singh posted the matter for May 20 after hearing the defence counsel who challenged the authority of CBI to prosecute the matter.

The defence counsel pleaded that CBI was only an investigating agency and had no right to prosecute.

The CBI counsel had earlier cited several Supreme Court and High Court rulings while arguing that the investigating agency was fully competent to launch prosecutions.

Besides Advani and Joshi, former union minister Uma Bharti, BJP National General Secretary Vinay Katiyar, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders Ashok Singhal, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Sadhvi Ritambhara are facing charges in the matter.