LUCKNOW: In response to the notices issued by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing Babri Mosque demolition case in Lucknow, five accused surrendered in the CBI court in Lucknow on Saturday.
The surrendered ones include Ram Vilas Vedanti, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahnat Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Dharam Das and BL Sharma.
The court had issued notices to six persons including the above mentioned five and one Satish Pradhan on Thursday asking them to appear before it on May 20.
However, Pradhan did not appear in the court citing health issues.
Later in the day, all the five accused were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each.
All the six persons were summoned by the court following the Supreme Court order of April 19, 2017.
According to special CBI counsel Lalit Kumar Singh, all the six accused were dropped from the case earlier by the High Court Special Judge SK Yadav.
All the accused who surrendered on Saturday had been allegedly involved in the demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. In fact, a separate case with LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar, and eight others as accused for allegedly instigating the mob and inciting the frenzy, was being heard in Rae Bareli court.
However, the Supreme Court, on April 19, ordered that the case in Rae Bareli be transferred and clubbed with the one being pending in Lucknow court to be heard on a day-to-day basis in Lucknow and a verdict be delivered within two years.
The SC revived all the charges of criminal conspiracy against senior BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders. The court exempted Kalyan Singh from prosecution on account of the constitutional immunity he enjoys as Governor.