The special CBI court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case on Wednesday granted exemption to senior BJP leaders L.K.Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi from personal appearance during the hearing in view of their age.
The court also granted a similar exemption to Union Minister Uma Bharti, another accused, observing that daily appearance could affect her work.
The court had a few days back framed criminal conspiracy charges against Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti for their role in the Babri Mosque demolition on December 6, 1992.
Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti would now face trial under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Charges were also framed against senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar and firebrand saffron leader Sadhvi Ritambhara and VHP leader Vishnu Hari Dalmiya.
The Supreme Court had earlier restored the criminal conspiracy charge against Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti, in the Babri Mosque demolition case and transferred the trial from the Raebareli special court to Lucknow. The trial of the case would be held on a daily basis.
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