New Delhi: The Supreme Court has extended the deadline to a Lucknow court to deliver its verdict in cases related to demolition of Babri Masjid against senior BJP leaders including Lal Krishna Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, and others.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI court to deliver verdict in demolition case, in which senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti are accused.
“Having read the report of Mr. Surendra Kumar Yadav, learned Special Judge, and considering that the proceedings are at the fag end, we grant one month’s time, i.e., till 30th September, 2020, to complete the proceedings including delivery of judgment,” the apex court has said in an order.
Supreme Court extends deadline for a month, till September 30, for CBI trial court in Lucknow to pronounce its judgement on cases against senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti & other leaders in Babri Masjid demolition case. SC gave the order on Aug 19. pic.twitter.com/KdZgNRWeiP
— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2020
The Supreme Court order came on a plea filed by special judge Surendra Kumar Yadav, who is hearing the matter related to the demolition of Babri Masjid, seeking more time to pronounce the judgement in the cases.
The top court had, in its last order, granted the trial court CBI judge in Lucknow time till August 31 to pronounce the judgement.
Last month, the special court used video-conferencing to record statements of veteran BJP leaders Advani and Joshi. All of them have denied the charges by the prosecution and said they were being implicated due to political reasons. They have denied any role in the demolition, and said they did not participate in any act that could impact the unity and integrity of the nation.
The mosque in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, by ‘kar sevaks’ who claimed an ancient Ram temple stood at the same site. Advani and Joshi were among those leading the Ram temple movement at that time.
The special CBI court had been recording the statements of the accused under CrPC Section 313 since June 5 after it completed the examination of 354 prosecution witnesses.