Criminal conspiracy charges framed against Advani, Joshi, other BJP leaders under Section 120B

The top court had called the destruction of the medieval-era monument a "crime" which shook the "secular fabric of the Constitution".

LUCKNOW: BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and 10 others accused in the Babri Masjid demolition on Tuesday moved the CBI court here seeking their discharge in the case before they were granted bail. They appeared before the court for framing of charges in the light of a Supreme Court order restoring the serious offence of criminal conspiracy against them. Live Updates:

• Criminal conspiracy charges framed against Advani, Joshi, other BJP leaders under Section 120B
• Special CBI court rejects discharge application, charges to be framed against all 12 accused in Babri case
• The defence counsel moved a "discharge application" in which the accused claimed not guilty in the December 1992 razing of the mosque at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
• The court granted bail on personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each
• All 12 accused granted bail by special CBI court on personal bond
• BJP stalwarts LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and others reach special CBI court in Lucknow
• Yogi was waiting at the guest house for Advani along with other state leaders. Later, the chief minister held a meeting with Advani and other senior leaders.
• The chief minister welcomed Advani with a bouquet of flowers as the former deputy prime minister stopped at the VVIP guest house before leaving for the special court.
• CM Yogi Adityanath meets LK Advani at Lucknow's VVIP guest house

• LK Advani leaves for Lucknow, likely to meet Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanth
• I don't consider myself guilty of committing any crime, says Uma Bharti
• It was an open protest, as it was during the time of emergency. What conspiracy was there in it I don't know: Uma Bharti
• I don't want to say anything on this, court has to take the decision and we will follow it: Vinay Katiyar
• The court has issued summons against us. We will appear before the court and will see what will happen: Vinay Katiyar

• I have faith in God because I have participated (in protest) with devotion: Uma Bharti
• Delhi: Senior BJP leader MM Joshi leaves for Lucknow,he has to appear before a special CBI court in Babri case today
• Besides LK Advani, Uma Bharti, Murli Manohar Joshi, special CBI judge S K Yadav had asked BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, VHP's Vishnu Hari Dalmia and a one-time firebrand Hindutva preacher Sadhvi Ritambara to present themselves before the court in person.
• While directing the accused to present themselves in person, the judge had said no application for adjournment or exemption from personal appearance shall be entertained.
• The court, which is hearing two separate cases relating to the demolition of the Babri masjid, would also frame charges against Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma alias Prem Ji, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahant Dharma Das and Satish Pradhan in the second matter.

The Supreme Court had on April 19 ordered prosecution of Advani (89), Joshi (83), 58-year-old Bharti, and other accused for criminal conspiracy in the politically sensitive case. It had also ordered day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years. The top court had called the destruction of the medieval-era monument a "crime" which shook the "secular fabric of the Constitution" while allowing the CBI's plea seeking restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the four BJP leaders, including Katiyar (62), and others. However, the Supreme Court had said BJP leader Kalyan Singh, who is the Rajasthan Governor and during whose tenure as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the disputed structure was razed, is entitled to immunity under the Constitution as long as he holds the gubernatorial office. The Supreme Court had on April 19 directed that Advani, Union Minister Uma Bharti and BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi will face trial on conspiracy charges. It had transferred their case from Raebareli to Lucknow. It directed the special court to start proceedings in the matter within a month and deliver its verdict within two years. The apex court had dubbed the demolition of the medieval era monument as a "crime" which shook the "secular fabric of the Constitution" and allowed CBI's plea on restoration of serious offence of criminal conspiracy against the VVIP accused.