The Hindu : Advani gets benefit of doubt

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 20, 2003

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Advani gets benefit of doubt

Rae Bareli Sept. 19. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today got the benefit of doubt from the Special Court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case as there were two sets of conflicting evidence against him while there was no contradiction in the evidence against the HRD Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, and six others.

The Special Judge, V.K. Singh, in his order observed that while statements by certain witnesses spoke of Mr. Advani attempting to "incite" the kar sevaks to pull down the disputed structure at Ayodhya, there were others who contended that the BJP leader was in fact trying to stop it.

Mr. Advani, according to one set of evidence, had expressed his displeasure over the kar sevaks not heeding his pleas against demolition of the structure.

Citing a Supreme Court ruling in the Union of India vs Prafulla Kumar Samal case, the judge held that in the face of conflicting viewpoints, charges could not be sustained against the accused.

It further said the charges made against Mr. Advani were only on suspicion of the offence and it was thoroughly explained by counsel for the accused.

The judge, however, said that in the case of Mr. Joshi and six others, the evidence was one-sided that they allegedly incited the mob on December 6, 1992.

PTI, UNI

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