Special CBI Court in Lucknow Acquits all Accused in Babri Masjid Demolition Case
The Babri Masjid demolition at Ayodhya took place on December 6, 1992, at the hands of kar sevaks who believed the site to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Two separate FIRs were registered, one against unnamed kar sevaks for the demolition of the structure, and the other against eight BJP leaders including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti for instigating the demolition of the structure. The case was later transferred to the CBI.
The FIR registered by CBI named 49 people, out of these 17 died during the course of the trial.
The accused persons were charged with the following offenses under IPC. Sections 147 (Rioting), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 153-B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) 295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship) 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class), and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) IPC read with Sections 149 (Unlawful assembly) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
After the intervention of the Supreme Court day to day hearing of the case took place.
The Court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to frame charges against eight BJP leaders for criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid Demolition case in April 2017. The Court also directed that the trial should conclude within two years, and ordered that the judge hearing the case should not be transferred.
The Apex Court set a time frame within which the trial in the case was to be completed in July 2019. The Court stated that the judgment in the case ought to be delivered in nine months. This deadline was later extended to August 31, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. This deadline was again extended on August 22. Court stated that till September 30 the trial should be completed and judgment should be pronounced.
The verdict was passed today by Special CBI Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav.
