NEW DELHI (TIP): CBI’s submission in the BabriMasjid demolition case that senior BJP leader LKAdvani and others had committed a ‘national crime’drew a sharp reaction from the Supreme Court whichasked the agency not to use such a language till the caseis decided by the courts.”Please don’t say that it is a national crime or a matterof national importance. We are yet to decide it. Until weor trial court decide this way or other, you can’t makesuch statements,” a bench headed by Justice H L Dattusaid.

The bench made the observations after senioradvocate PP Rao, appearing for CBI, submitted thatleaders of BJP and VHP were involved in a “nationalconspiracy” which was reflected in the Rath Yatra andits a case of “national crime”.Rao’s submission came while challenging the verdictsof Special CBI court and Allahabad high court droppingconspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, KalyanSingh, Uma Bharti Vinay Katiyar and Murli ManoharJoshi. The others against whom charges were droppedincluded Satish Pradhan, CR Bansal, Ashok Singhal,Giriraj Kishore, Sadhvi Ritambhara, V H Dalmia,Mahant Avaidhynath, RV Vedanti, Param Hans RamChandra Das, Jagdish Muni Maharaj, BL Sharma,Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar andMoreshwar Save.

During arguments, the bench also questioned CBIover the delay in hearings before the special court andthe filing of the appeal challenging the verdicts of thetwo courts. “You said that it is a case of nationalimportance. Then can you say that the translation (ofcourt records) takes days and filing of case takes threemonths,” the bench said.The agency pleaded that it should be allowed to file afresh affidavit to explain its stand but the bench turnedit down and said no fresh affidavits or material will beallowed to be placed before it.