Thursday, January 6 2005 21:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, hearing arguments on the criminal revision petitions challenging the special Rae Bareli court orders in Ayodhya demolition case, today (Jan 6, 2005) posted the matter for further hearing on January 17.

CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) Counsel P K Chaubey continued his arguments today on the five criminal revisions challenging the special Rae Bareli court order by which it had discharged BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President L K Advani but directed issuance of summons against former Union Minister M M Joshi and six others in the Ayodhya case.

Justice Y R Tripathi posted the matter for further hearing on January 17.

Chaubey had yesterday contended before the court that there were 'shouts of joy' at the demolition of each of the three domes of the disputed structure and BJP leaders, including Uma Bharti "encouraged" people. There were no attempts to dissuade the people from carrying out the demolition, he told the court.

The special Rae Bareli court had on September 19, 2003 discharged Advani giving him the benefit of the doubt but had ordered issuance of summons to Joshi, Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambhara, former State BJP president Vinay Katiyar and VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmiya in the matter.

Later, all the six accused persons filed criminal revisions challenging the Rae Bareli court order. One Haji Mehboob had also filed a criminal revision against the discharge of Advani.

The High Court had stayed the proceedings at the Rae Bareli court and summoned the relevant records.