Babri demolition case acquittal challenged in HC

Lucknow: A petition has been filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High court on Friday challenging the acquittal of 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 by the special CBI court.

On September 30 last, the special CBI court, Lucknow, acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

But now two CBI witnesses have moved the petition in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court against the acquittals on Friday.

But surprisingly the petition was filed after 100 days when deadline for CBI to challenge the verdict in a higher court expired after 90 days.

The petitioners said that the delay was due to CBI, which did not respond to their plea to challenge the special court’s acquittal verdict.

The petition was filed by two CBI witnesses - Haji Mahboob, 70, and Hafiz Sayyad Akhlaq, 80, who deposed during the trial at the Lucknow court. Their houses, which were in close proximity to the mosque, were torched by a mob on December 6, 1992. (UNI)