The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday denied allegations that a change in the government at the Centre would lead to dilution of criminal charges in its prosecution against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Union minister Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The central investigating agency filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in response to a petition by Haji Mahboob Ahmed asserting there was no influence by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, as alleged by the petitioner.
“The decision making process of the CBI is completely independent. All decisions are taken based on correct facts in the light of the law. There is no question of any person, body or institution influencing the decision making process of CBI or the manner in which it pursues its cases in courts,” read the CBI affidavit.
The agency has asked the SC to dismiss Ahmed’s allegations as baseless.
Ahmed moved the SC against Allahabad high court’s 2010 verdict discharging Advani and 19 senior leaders of the BJP and Hindu outfits of criminal conspiracy in the demolition case.
He also expressed apprehension that the BJP government at the Centre might influence the CBI to go soft on its plea before the SC. The top court had on March 31 issued notices to the agency and the leaders.
{{/usCountry}}He also expressed apprehension that the BJP government at the Centre might influence the CBI to go soft on its plea before the SC. The top court had on March 31 issued notices to the agency and the leaders.
{{/usCountry}}The CBI which had moved the apex court on February 18, 2011, nearly nine months after the Allahabad high court verdict is yet to persuade the Supreme Court on the justification for its delay in challenging the high court order.
The CBI, in its appeal before the apex court, has said that the verdict discharging Advani and other leaders of the offence of criminal conspiracy “is inconsistent with the previous judgment rendered by the Allahabad high court on February 12, 2001”.