Thursday, December 23 2004 09:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A letter written by an official of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the Babri Masjid demolition case against L K Advani created a political controversy with BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) alleging "misuse" of CBI to reopen and expedite the case, a charge rejected by the Government.

"A senior official in the PMO has written to CBI asking the agency to reopen the case against Advani," BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters, claiming that that the party was in possession of the letter.

Later the party released the letter dated December 8 in which the PMO official has said he has been asked to request that the Law ministry may be asked to "(a) examine if there are any legal provisions and grounds for CBI to file a Revision against discharge of Shri L K Advani at this stage and (b) examine if there is any negligence on the part of any investigation/prosecuting agency in not filing a Revision Petition on time."

The letter said CBI had informed that two witnesses had filed a Revision Petition in the High Court against the discharge of Advani, which was being heard.

"In this regard I have been asked to request that the Ministry of Law and Justice may kindly be consulted to examine if a decision on the Revision Petition can be expedited," the official wrote in the letter.