After maintaining for years that he would not depose, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh on Tuesday sprang a surprise by making his maiden appearance before the Liberhan Commission probing the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in December 1992.

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A bailable warrant had been issued against him on September 2 asking him to appear by September 23. Accompanied by his advocate B B Saxena, Singh appeared as a witness and sought adjournment of the hearing, which was granted in view of a recent Delhi high court order.

The hearing has been adjourned to October 28 and 29 as the court will hear Singh's plea on October 17.0

Singh was the chief minister when the structure was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Asked why he was avoiding appearing before the Commission despite repeated summonses, Singh said, "There is a criminal case going against me in the demolition case where I am not a witness but a defendant. Hence, I did not appear before the Commission."

PTI

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