The CBI has filed an application in the Special CBI court in Lucknow hearing the Babri structure demolition case to summon former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh as an accused in the case. Kalyan Singh’s term as Rajasthan governor ended today, and along with that, the constitutional immunity he had enjoyed also came to end. Now he will be tried along with others accused in the case of demolition of Babri structure in 1992.
#JustIn – CBI moves an application in Special CBI court (Lucknow) for summoning former Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh in the Ayodhya Babri mosque demolition case. Hearing on the petition is on 11th September. pic.twitter.com/whIMOORY93
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 9, 2019
Kalyan Singh was the CM of UP when the disputed structure at the Rama Janambhumi was brought down by Karsevaks on December 6 1992. He had resigned from the post of CM on the same taking moral responsibility for the demolition. Along with senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and others, Kalyan Singh was also charged with criminal conspiracy in the case. In 2001, a CBI court had dropped the criminal conspiracy charges, against the accused, and that verdict was upheld by the Allahabad High Court.
In 2017 the Supreme Court had ordered the restoration of criminal conspiracy charges again, terming the High Court judgement dropping the charges as “erroneous”. In July this year, the apex court had asked the special court to complete the trial in the case within nine months.
Kalyan Singh was appointed as governor of Rajasthan in September 2014, which had given him immunity from prosecution under Article 361 of the constitution. His term ended on 9th September, and he had joined the BJP on the same day. CBI also didn’t delay in taking action against him as the case is to be concluded within the deadline given by the Supreme Court. While ordering the restoration of the case in 2017, the apex court had noted that Kalyan Singh can be tried in the case only after he ceases to be governor.
Ex-Rajasthan Governor&BJP leader Kalyan Singh: Ayodhya is a sacred place. Construction of Ram temple is a matter of devotion of crores of people. All political parties should make their stand clear before the people,if they’re in favour of construction of Ram temple or against it pic.twitter.com/3wgWLHHSZp
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 9, 2019
Talking to media after re-joining BJP, Kalyan Singh had said that Ayodhya is a sacred place, and construction of Ram temple is a matter of devotion of crores of people. He had said that all political parties should make their stand on construction of Ram Mandir clear in front of the people.
