Was It Or Was It Not A Criminal Conspiracy? A Brief Timeline Of The Babri Case

Two and a half decades after the demolition of the disputed structure on the Ramjanmabhoomi land in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court restored the conspiracy charges against senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti.

Justice PC Ghose and RF Nariman pronounced the judgement ordering a time-bound trial that will see the all the accused face trial in four weeks. Kalyan Singh, who is also an accused in the case will be tried only after he ceases to hold office as he enjoys constitutional immunity being the Governor of Rajasthan. The apex court ruling out a fresh trial transferred the case from Rae Bareily to Lucknow and instructed the sessions judge in Lucknow to conduct trial sessions every day and ensure the trial is completed in two years.

The story so far:

6 December 1992 - The disputed structure on Ramjanmabhooomi at Ayodhya was razed by hundreds of ‘karsevaks’. This act was followed by widespread communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in various parts of the country. In October 1993, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a composite charge sheet against LK Advani and others accusing them of conspiracy.

Three months later in December, two FIRs were filed; one accusing unnamed ‘karsevaks’ of bringing down the said structure, and the second against the said senior leaders of BJP among others for inciting the mob by making “communal” speeches before the razing took place.

Eight years after the FIR was filed, in May 2001, a special CBI court dropped proceedings against the accused. In May 2010, LK Advani and others were absolved of all conspiracy charges.

Then in September 2010, two-thirds of the disputed site was awarded to Hindu parties and one-third to the Waqf board by the Allahabad High Court.

The CBI moved the Supreme Court in February 2011, which stayed the Allahabad HC verdict. Today (19 April) the Supreme Court revived the conspiracy charges against the BJP stalwarts, while also clubbing it with the trial against unnamed 'karsevaks' in the same matter which was taking place in a Lucknow court.