CBI begins probing Ayodhya case missing files

Following directives from the Allahabad High Court, the CBI has started investigation into 23 missing files related to Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri mosque land dispute.

Following directives from the Allahabad High Court, the CBI has started investigation into 23 missing files related to Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri mosque land dispute.

HT Image

A CBI team led by Deputy Inspector General Zaki Ahmad on Saturday met senior officials of Uttar Pradesh government, including Home department officials, and held detailed discussion on the Ayodhya title suits case, official sources said in Lucknow on Sunday.

The CBI team handed a letter to the Home Secretary, seeking information on 20 points including which officials were posted in the Home Department when the files had gone missing, who was in possession of the files at that time and what documents were contained in the files, the sources said.

Later, the team visited Hazratganj police station, where a case was lodged by the state government on July 9, and took a copy of the FIR.

On July 15, the High Court's Lucknow bench asked the CBI director to submit an interim progress report on the issue before the court on August 24 -- the next date of hearing.

The state government had recommended the CBI probe into the missing files on July 10.