Rae Bareilly: The special court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition cases on April 16 allowed exemption from personal appearance to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and seven others, who are named as accused in the case, for the next hearing on April 26 and said they will have to file fresh applications for exemption for subsequent hearings.

Special judge Vinod Kumar Singh posted the matter for further hearing on April 26 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel sought time for submission of remaining documents to the court.

The counsel for the accused persons moved an application seeking exemption of the eight persons from personal appearance till further court orders, but the court said this could be considered after a fresh application is filed on that date.

It may be recalled that besides Advani, Union Ministers M M Joshi, Uma Bharati and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal were among the eight persons facing trial for their alleged role in the demolition of the Babri mosque.

The case was transferred to the special court after the Allahabad High Court had quashed proceedings against the accused, citing a legal defect in the government notification.

PTI