Lucknow: The Special CBI Court in Lucknow, on Wednesday, fixed May 26 as the date for framing criminal conspiracy charges under section 120-B of the IPC against senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union minister Uma Bharati, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambahara and Vishnu Hari Dalmia for demolition of Babri mosque on December 6, 1992.
The court has also fixed Thursday for framing charges of criminal conspiracy against Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahant Dharam Das Maharaj and Satish Pradhan.
The court has directed the CBI to ensure presence of all the accused on both the dates for framing criminal conspiracy charges against them. This means that Mr Advani, Dr Joshi, Uma Bharati and others will have to appear before the court on May 26.
Earlier, the Shiv Sena leader Satish Pradhan surrendered before the Special CBI Court. He was, later, granted bail by the court on furnishing surety and personal bond for Rs 20,000 each.
The Shiv Sena leader was to surrender along with five other accused on Saturday but his counsel had sought time for his appearance due to illness.
Five other accused, including Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Ganpat Rai, B.L. Sharma, Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti and Daharam Das Maharaj had surrendered before the Special CBi Court on Saturday.
