Judgment in Babri Masjid demolition case on Sept 30

A special CBI court, which was hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case and was directed by the Supreme Court to deliver judgement in the case latest by September 2020, will announce its decision on 30th of this month.

Lucknow: The judgement in Babri Masjid demolition case, which was being heard by the special CBI court, will be announced on September 30.

All the 32 accused in the case, including former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, BJP leaders MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiar, have been asked to remain present in the court on the day of the judgment.

Special CBI judge Surendra Kumar Yadav has issued directions in this regard.

The court had last month rejected pleas of two prosecution witnesses -- Hazi Mahmood Ahmad and Sayyed Akhlakh -- seeking permission to file written arguments in the Babri Masjid demolition case, holding that they were not victims in the matter.

Notably, the CBI has already filed its 400 page written arguments in connection with the case.

The Supreme Court had earlier extended till August 31 the tenure of special CBI Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav and directed him to complete the trial and deliver the judgment in the case by that time.

The apex court had later granted another month to special CBI judge SK Yadav to pronounce judgement in the case.

Earlier in July, the special court had recorded the statement of senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar and Kalyan Singh.

The Babri mosque demolition trial has completed the stage of recording of statements of the 32 accused in the case under Section 313 of the CrPC during which they get an opportunity to refute the prosecution evidence against them.

The mosque in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, by 'kar sevaks' who claimed that an ancient Ram temple stood at the same site.

Advani and Joshi were among those leading the Ram temple movement at that time. The court conducted its day-to-day hearing in the case to complete its trial by August 31 as directed by the Supreme Court.

READ: LK Advani said 'mandir wahin banaenge', but missing in action when it's happening

(With inputs from the agencies)