NEW DELHI: The CBI on Oct5 filed a charge sheet against the top BJP RSSVHP Shiv Sena leader Ship for “planning and executing a conspiracy” to demolish the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya on December 6.

The 80page charge sheet was filed in the court of a special magistrate in Lucknow, a CBI spokesman said here.

The charge sheet named top leaders of the Singh parivar, including LK.Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, former UP Chief Minister Kayan Singh, Shiv Sena chief BAL Thackeray, Vishva Hindu Parishad leaders Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia and Sanyasins Uma Bharati and Sadhvi Ritambhara.

The spokesman said the charge sheet was filed against “the more prominent persons who partietpated in the demolition conspiracy or were instrumental directly or indirectly in taking concrete steps in furtherance of this conspiracy.”

He added that the CBI had collected substantial evidence establishing a case of prior planning and conspiracy in demolishing the Ayodhya structure.

‘The charge sheet also names Bajrang Dal chief Vinay Katiyar, Shiv Sena MP Moreshwar Save, Pawan Kumar Pande, Jat Bhagwan Goel, former Faizabad District Magistrate RN Shrivastay and former SSP, (Faizabad) D.R.Rai.

Twenty six others have also been named in the charge sheet.

The charge sheet, filed in the court of a special magistrate of Lucknow, has charged the 40), accused with Offences like criminal conspiracy. International destruction, defiling of a place of worship, criminal trespass and intimidation of public servants, the spokesman said.

The case pertaining to the demolition of the Ram Janmabhoomi Babri masjid structure was registered by the UP police immediately after the incident on December 6.

The case was against lakhs of “kar sevaks” in general and did not specify the names of the accused in particular; the case was taken over by the CBI for investigations on December 13 on the state government’s request.

The CBI had set up a special Ayodhya cell headed by its Joint Director H: N.Sambhariya. The Ayodhya incident investigation team comprised two DIGs, six SPs, a number of DSPs and Inspectors.

The spokesman said during the Course of investigations, 850 witnesses were examined and 705 documents and 112 articles seized or collected.

Video cassettes, photographs and media reports were also examined by the GBI with a number of documents yielding a large volume of evidence.

Witnesses examined by the CBI included hundreds of “kar sevaks,” some of whom allegedly admitted to taking part in the demolition, the Spokesman added.

The CBI also examined media Persons who were present on the Spot. The spokesman said the CBI had collected substantial evidence, establishing a case of prior planning and conspiracy.

The evidence was based on transcripts of speeches, published material, media reports and documents and record seized during two rounds of raids conducted by the CBI in several states earlier this year.

The entire evidence had been analyzed and evaluated by top legal experts, the spokesman added. He clarified that the charge sheet had been filed against the “more prominent” persons who participated in the Ayodhya demolition conspiracy or were instrumental directly or indirectly in taking concrete steps in furtherance of this conspiracy.

Meanwhile the BJP has “strongly condemned” the charge sheet filed by the CBI against Advani and others.

Reacting to the charge sheet filed in a Lucknow court, party spokesman Krishan lal Sharma, MP, said here that the intentions of the Congress were clear in timing the filing of the charge sheet shortly before the assembly elections. It was filed out of “mala fide intentions and was politically motivated,” he added, Sharma told newsperson here that the BJP had prior knowledge about the impending charge sheet against its leaders. The government had taken this step “out of frustration” after having “failed” in its attempts to force passage of the twin bills to delink religion from politics and gating the ordinance passed to amend the Representation of People Act, he said.

While on the one hand the government insisted that the Ayodhya dispute should not be used for election purposes, by filing such charge sheets (by the CBI) at this juncture, on the other it was bringing to the juncture the issue on its own, he maintained.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 15, 1993