LK Advani, MM Joshi, 30 Others Acquitted in Babri Masjid Demolition Case

Special CBI Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav delivered his verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case on Wednesday, 28 years after the 16th century building was demolished by a mob in Uttar Pradesh 's town of Ayodhya.

Key accused include former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, former Union Ministers MM Joshi and Uma Bharti, and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh. Most of the top 32 accused leaders, such as LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, were not present at the Lucknow court when the judge began the proceedings, reports Hindustan Times.

The 32 accused are accused under a variety of parts of the IPC, including criminal conspiracy, rioting, spreading enmity between different groups and illegal assembly. During the trial, 351 witnesses and 600 documents were produced by the Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) as evidence before the CBI court. The court initially convicted 49 of the accused; 17 of the accused died.

Here are the live updates:

- Babri Masjid demolition verdict: On high alert, UP police told to prevent gatherings

The UP police have given a high-level warning across the state in the light of the verdict in the Babri mosque demolition case delivered by the special CBI court (Ayodhya case) in Lucknow on Wednesday, senior police officers said.

- CBI Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav reaches CBI court.

The court will give its judgment in the case of the demolition of the Babri mosque, almost three decades after the demolition of the building of the 16th century in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992.

-While the top suspects, including LK Advani, MM Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, are unlikely to be present as Kalyan and Uma Bharti recover from Covid-19, numerous other defendants are expected to be present.

- Shiv Sena leader admits to role in Babri Masjid demolition

Accused Jai Bhagwan Goyal, 62, who was Shiv Sena's north India chief at the time of demolition arrives. On the issue of demolition Goyal while talking to HT said the CBI court had directed them to bring guarantor along and said he won't comply with the order. "Yes, I admit to my role in demolition," he said.

- BJP leader denies role

BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, who is one of the accused in the demolition case, denies hand in hand with a criminal conspiracy. Katiyar and other leaders were on a stage away from the location where the mosque collapsed.

- 'Ready to face gallows for Lord Ram', says former BJP MP

Former BJP MP and accused in the case Ram Vilas Vedanti has said that he is "ready to face anything, including gallows, for Lord Ram."

- Several accused reach CBI court ahead of verdict

Among the accused are Vinay Katiyar, Jai Bhagwan Goyal, Sadhvi Rithambhara, Acharya Dharmadas, Lallu Singh, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Champat Rai and Sakshi Maharaj.

- All the accused, barring 6, inside the court; judgment shortly

- Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi attend proceedings via video conferencing.

- Babri demolition was spontaneous, not pre-planned': CBI judge reads out verdict

- 32 Babri case accused acquitted. Judge says demolition was spontaneous, not pre-planned