Babri Masjid Case Live: Criminal Conspiracy trial against LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti; verdict in two years

SC hearing on Bbari Masjid demolition likely on Wednesday/ File image of Advani and Joshi/ Courtesy: PTI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday revived the conspiracy charge in Babri Masjid demolition case against senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, Union Minister Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, among others. A bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman which was hearing the case also transferred their trial from Rae Bareli to Lucknow. Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Nariman said that since Kalyan Singh being the Governor of Rajasthan enjoys constitutional immunity from being prosecuted, the trial court would proceed against him the day he ceases to be the Governor. The apex court said the trial needs to be conducted on day-to-basis without adjournments and gave a time period of two years to deliver the verdict. The court said that there would be no de-novo trial and ordered no transfer of the trial court judge till trial was over within 2 years. The judgement by the apex court has dashed all hopes of Advani and Joshi's presidential ambitions. The election is due in July this year. Speaking on the issue, senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said, "I respect the court's decision. I haven't hatched any conspiracy. The CBI has deliberately initiated the trial against me. Will go to jail if required for Ram Mandir's cause." Earlier in the month, SC had reserved its order on the conspiracy charges against senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. The apex court had also asked various parties to file their response in the matter and said that it would hear the matter after two weeks. Two sets of cases in Ayodhya case: One case is against BJP veteran LK Advani and others, who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 when the Babri mosque was demolished. The second case is against the 'karsevaks' (volunteers) who were present in lakhs, in and around the disputed Babri Masjid.   CBI filed chargesheet: A chargesheet was filed against Advani and 20 others by Central Bureau of Investigation under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc. circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Charges under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC were also invoked, which were quashed by the special court whose decision was upheld by the high court. Babri Masjid demolition: The Babri Mosque was destroyed during a political rally which turned into a riot on 6 December 1992. A subsequent land title case was lodged in the Allahabad High Court, the verdict of which was pronounced on 30 September 2010. SC asks parties to resolve issue amicably: The Supreme Court ordered various parties to resolve the Ayodhya dispute via dialogue among themselves. The move was welcomed by various political parties and Muslim groups.