Babri case: Implicated by Congress in vendetta, says Vinay Katiyar

LUCKNOW: While deposing before the special CBI court, conducting Babri demolition trial, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar on Monday denied every allegation of conspiracy to demolish the disputed structure.
“I was implicated in the case as there was Congress led government at the Centre and due to political vendetta I was roped in the case for ulterior reasons,” deposed Katiyar before the special court.
He appeared before the special court on its direction as the court has been proceeding to record statement of accused since June 4 in order to enable them to elaborate their innocence. The trial court is speeding up proceedings in order to conclude it by August 31 to comply directions of the Supreme Court.
Katiyar had appeared on June 4 for getting recorded his statement under Section 313 of CrPC, but due to paucity of time, the court could not record his statement. Katiyaron Monday appeared in the court along with his lawyer KK Mishra and responded to more than 1,000 queries. To most of the questions, Katiyar either said he did not know or he was implicated.
After recording statement of Katiyar, special judge SK Yadav directed other persons who are less than 65 years of age to appear before it on Tuesday for their statements. Former deputy PM LK Advani, BJP leaders MM Joshi and Uma Bharati have already been exempted for appearing personally till further order of the court.
The special court directed its office to write to jail superintendent, district jail, Sonipat, Haryana to arrange for recording statement of an accused Ram Chandra Khatrithrough video-conferencing from jail on June 20. It asked the office to furnish the copy of letter to district judge, Sonipat for information and necessary action. Khatri is in Sonipat jail in connection with another case and hence he had earlier requested the special court to summon him from jail to Lucknow. But the special court decided to record his statement from jail through video-conferencing.