The accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case include senior leaders of the ruling BJP - the party's founder-members L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, former minister Uma Bharti
Babri Masjid demolition case verdict: A Special CBI court hearing the Babri mosque demolition case of December 6, 1992, acquitted all the 32 accused on Wednesday saying it was spontaneous and not a planned move. Those acquitted in the case that lasted 28 years include former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, former Union Ministers M.M. Joshi, Uma Bharti, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, among others. Former BJP MP Vinay Katiyar and Hindu leader Sadhvi Rithambhara, who were among the accused present in court, said: "Sab Ramji ki kripa hai".
As soon as the court announced the acquittal of the accused, jubilation broke out outside the court, in Ayodhya and Lucknow where supporters of the leaders were present to celebrate the occasion. Special CBI judge S.K. Yadav, in his verdict, said that the demotion was not a planned incident but a spontaneous act.
Stay tuned for Babri Masjid demolition verdict LIVE updates
Babri Masjid demolition case verdict LIVE: The verdict will be announced in Court room number 18
The verdict will be announced in Court room number 18, and it has been decided that only five out of 32 accused will be inside the courtroom at any time
Babri Masjid demolition case verdict LIVE: Court will decide on 2 FIRs
Court will decide on 2 FIRs – 197/1992 & 198/1992
FIR 197 was against unnamed Karsevaks for the demolition of the structure
FIR 198 was against eight BJP leaders for instigating the demolition of the structure.
Vinay Katiyar and Ram Vilas Vedanti, accused in Babri Masjid demolition case, arrive the Special CBI court in Lucknow for the hearing today
Babri Masjid demolition verdict LIVE: Security tightened around Special CBI court in Lucknow
Lucknow: Security tightened around Special CBI court. The court will pronounce its verdict today, in Babri Masjid demolition case. pic.twitter.com/ArCv47NDsB
Babri Masjid demolition case verdict LIVE: Senior BJP leader Kalyan Singh was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at the time of the demolition
Senior BJP leader Kalyan Singh was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at the time of the demolition. His government was dismissed as riots broke out across the country, in which around 3,000 people died.
Babri Masjid demolition case: CBI judge Surendra Kumar Yadav to pronounce verdict shortly
CBI judge Surendra Kumar Yadav will begin reading out the verdict shortly as he has arrived in court room.
Babri Masjid demolition case verdict LIVE: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh unlikely to be present in the trial court
BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh, all accused in the Babri mosque demolition case, are unlikely to be present in the trial court on Wednesday at the time of delivery of verdict in the matter
Babri Masjid demolition case: If former UP CM Kaylan Singh and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj are convicted, they may face maximum imprisonment up to 3 years
If former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj and then Ayodhya district magistrate R.N. Srivastava are convicted, they may get maximum three years of jail term.
Babri Masjid demolition case: If convicted, the accused face maximum imprisonment up to five years for conspiracy
According to legal experts, if convicted, veteran leaders like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Rithambhara, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Champat Rai Bansal, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Dharmadas and Satish Pradhan would face maximum imprisonment up to five years for conspiracy.