LK Advani to be tried for criminal conspiracy in Babri Masjid case

NEW DELHI: India's top court on Wednesday restored criminal charges against senior leaders of the ruling party BJP, including L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman pronounced the judgment, ordering the trial at both Lucknow and Rae Bareli to be complete in two years.

According the Indian media reports, the bench ruled that there will be no fresh trial because of framing of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders. However, in the case of accused Kalyan Singh, the court said charges will not be framed against him as of now, but only when he leaves the governor's office.

The top court said the trial will proceed on a day-to-day basis and on no grounds it will be adjourned. It further stated that the judges presiding over the case will not be transferred till the trial is concluded and judgment has been pronounced.

The bench had also said since 25 years have already passed, in the interest of justice, it would consider ordering time-bound trial on day-to-day basis, to be completed preferably within two years.

Mr Advani was originally and along with party colleagues like Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi, charged with making inflammatory speeches that motivated lakhs of right-wing volunteers or karsevaks to pull down the mosque in 1992. That trial was being held in Rae Bareli.

The demolition of the mosque came after a movement led in part by Mr Advani for a temple to be built on the same spot where the masjid was constructed by the Mughals.

The razing of the Babri Masjid incited countrywide riots between Muslims and Hindus; around 2,000 people were killed.