LUCKNOW: A writ petition challenging the CBI authority to prosecute in the Ayodhya demolition case was on Monday fixed for next hearing on August 7 by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court.

The order was passed on a writ filed by Moreshwar Save, who contended that CBI was a probe agency and as such not authorised to prosecute the accused.

A CBI revision petition challenging the exoneration of former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and 20 others in the Ayodhya demolition case is already pending before the High Court.

The CBI had challenged the Special Additional Sessions judge (Ayodhya case) order exonerating Mr. Advani, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and Moreshwar Save.

The Criminal Bureau of Investigation had demanded these 21 people be also prosecuted in the case.

However, Mr. Save submitted an application opposing the central agency's revision petition. He challenged the role of CBI as the prosecution agency in the case.

Another case relating to the demolition is also pending before the Special CBI Court in Rae Bareli.

On July 18, the court had rejected the defence plea to defer the proceedings of the case in view of the criminal revision pending in the Lucknow Bench. The court had fixed August 19 for next hearing. - UNI

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