Don't call it national crime yet, says SC on Babri case

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the CBI for its long delay over challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict which held that senior BJP leaders, including L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, cannot be tried for criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The court also criticised the CBI for its submission that the BJP leaders had committed a “national crime”. The court told the CBI that the matter was sub judice, and such language cannot be used till the matter is decided by the courts. “Please don’t say it is a national crime or a matter of national importance. We are yet to decide. Until we or the trial court decide... you can’t make such statements,” a bench headed by Justice H.L. Dattu said.
Questioning the delay in challenging the High Court order, the bench added: “You said it is a case of national importance. Then (how) can you say translation (of court records) takes days and filing of the case takes three months?”
No need to file new affidavits, SC tells CBI
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the CBI’s plea that it should be allowed to file a fresh affidavit to explain the delay in hearings before the special court and the filing of the appeal challenging the verdicts of Special CBI court and Allahabad High Court in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The two courts had  dropped conspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti Vinay Katiyar and Murli Manohar Joshi. The court, however, allowed the CBI to file documents which were referred to in the verdicts of the special court and the HC. The court adjourned the hearing till February 13.
Senior advocate P.P. Rao, appearing for the CBI, submitted that leaders of BJP and VHP were involved in a “national conspiracy” which was reflected in the Rath Yatra and its a case of “national crime”.
Rao’s submission came while challenging the verdicts of the special court and the HC dropping the charge of conspiracy against top BJP leaders.