Babri Demolition Case: Oppn Slams Verdict, AIMPLB to Approach HC
The accused were acquitted citing lack of evidence against them for hatching the alleged conspiracy.
Twenty-eight years after the Babri Masjid was demolished, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Wednesday, 30 September, acquitted all 32 accused in the case, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said that it will appeal against the verdict in the high court.
After the verdict, Advani issued a statement saying it vindicates his and the BJP’s belief in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.Joshi said that the verdict proves their rallies were not part of any conspiracy.
The accused were acquitted, citing lack of evidence against them for hatching the alleged conspiracy. The court also observed that the 1992 demolition was not pre-planned.
- Several BJP leaders including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad welcomed the verdict
- Prasad met Advani at the latter’s Delhi residence after the verdict
- Several Opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi and Sitaram Yechury slammed the verdict, calling it a travesty of justice
- Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti attended the proceedings via video conferencing
- UP CM Yogi Adityanath in a statement said that the Congress government had framed saints, BJP leaders, VHP officials in false cases with intention to defame them
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Babri Masjid Verdict: What Has Happened So Far?
Former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti are among the 32 accused in the conspiracy that led to the demolition of the 15th century mosque in December 1992.
Kalyan Singh, a senior BJP leader, was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh at the time of the mosque demolition. His government was dismissed as riots broke out across the country in which around 3,000 people died.
The symbolic construction of Ram temple started earlier this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the ground-breaking ceremony in Ayodhya on 5 August.
Babri Masjid Verdict: What Progress Has Been Made in the Case?
In April 2017, the top court had asked the special court to conduct day-to-day hearings and complete the trial within two years.
Advani had recorded his statement in the case before the special CBI court through video conference on 24 July. Joshi recorded his statement a day before Advani. Both have denied all the charges against them just like Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh.
LK Advani, MM Joshi Won't Be in Court for Judgment: Report
Despite the court directing all the accused to be present in the court during the judgement, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi will not be present when the court announces its judgment in the Babri mosque case on Wednesday, NDTV reports.
Advani and Joshi have reportedly sought an exemption, while Uma Bharti is in hospital with COVID-19.
‘Prefer to Hang Than Seek Bail,' Says Uma Bharti: Report
Former Union Minister Uma Bharati, one of the senior BJP leaders facing a verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case, has said that she would “prefer to hang than seek bail” in the case, if found guilty, according to The Hindu.
“I am proud of my participation in the Ayodhya movement and seeking bail would, I believe dilute this participating. Even if I have hang for having participated, it will be acceptable to me. In such circumstances whether or not you would want to keep me in your team is for you to consider,” she wrote in a letter to BJP president JP Nadda, the report said.
Advani, Joshi, Uma Bharti Unlikely to be Present in Court
LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh are unlikely to be present in court at the time of delivery of the verdict in the Babri demolition case, an advocate was quoted by PTI as saying.
Vinay Katiyar, Champat Rai and Others Reach Lucknow
Accused Vinay Katiyar, Dharamdas, Vedanti, Lallu Singh, Champat Rai and Pawan Pandey have reached Lucknow ahead of the verdict by the court in the Babri case.
Accused Arrive in Court
Accused Ritambhara, Champat Rai, Vinay Katiyar, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other accused have arrived at the CBI Special court for hearing. The judge has also arrived.
Advani, Joshi Present Via Video Conferencing
Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das attend proceedings via video conferencing.
Babri Demolition Case: All Accused Acquitted by CBI Court
Twenty-eight years after the Babri Masjid was demolished, the CBI court on Wednesday, 30 September. acquitted all 32 accused in the case including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti.
This Ends the Dispute: Lawyer of Accused
KK Mishra appearing on behalf of the accused told The Quint: “The CBI court has acquitted all 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case. This ends the long pending dispute related with the 6 December, 1992 incident.”
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Arrives at Advani's Residence
Law & Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad arrives at the residence of senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani who was acquitted in Babri Masjid demolition case today.
Rajnath Singh Welcomes Babri Verdict
Union Minister rajnath Singh took to Twitter to welcome the Babri Masjid verdict by the special CBI court.
“I welcome the verdict by Special CBI Court, Lucknow acquitting all 32 accused. It proves that justice triumphed however late it may be,” he said.
'Ram Janmabhoomi Belief Vindicated': Advani on Babri Verdict
After the verdict, Advani issued a statement saying it vindicates his and the BJP’s belief in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the judgement by the Special Court in Babri Masjid Demolition Case. The judgement vindicates my personal and BJP's belief and commitment toward the Ram Janmabhoomi movement,” he said.
'Historic Day, Proves Rallies Were No Conspiracy': MM Joshi on Babri Verdict
BJP leader and accused in Babri case Murli Manohar Joshi says verdict proves their rallies were not part of any conspiracy.
“It is a historic decision by the court. This proves that no conspiracy was hatched for 6 December incident in Ayodhya. Our program and rallies were not part of any conspiracy. We are happy, everyone should now be excited about Ram Mandir's construction,” he said.
Congress Framed Saints, BJP Leaders: Yogi on Babri Verdict
UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s Office issued a statement to say that the
“CM welcomes the verdict. It proves that the then Congress government had framed saints, BJP leaders, VHP officials in false cases with intention to defame them, for vote bank politics. Those responsible for this conspiracy should apologise to nation,” the statement said.
Hardeep Puri Welcomes Babri Verdict
Union Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, congratulating LK Advani and other acquitted leaders tweeted, “False narratives & conspiracy theories are finally laid to rest by Hon'bl CBI Court in historic Babri Masjid Demolition Verdict.”
Truth Prevailed: Prakash Javadekar on Babri Verdict
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar reacted saying the country is elated at the acquittal of LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others.
'Complete Travesty of Justice': Yechury Slams Babri Verdict
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury called the Babri verdict a travesty of justice.
Black Day for Indian Judiciary: Owaisi on Babri Verdict
AIMIM Leader Asaduddin Owaisi called the verdict a ‘black day’ for Indian judiciary
“Today is a sad day in the history of Indian judiciary. Now, the court says there was no conspiracy. Please enlighten me, how many days of months of preparations are required to disqualify an action from being spontaneous?” he asked, as quoted by ANI.
“Decision by CBI court is a black day for Indian judiciary because the SC already said in civil property dispute of the site as ‘an egregious violation of rule of law’ and ‘calculated act of destroying a public place of worship,’” he said.
Muslim Personal Law Board to Challenge Babri Verdict in HC
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said that it will appeal against the special CBI court verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case in the high court.
AIMPLB Secretary Zafaryab Jilani said that the judgment pronounced on Wednesday by the special CBI court in the case was wrong.
"We will appeal against the judgment in the High Court," said the lawyer, who was also part of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, IANS reported.