Live: Court to Frame Charges Against Advani, Joshi in Babri Case

BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Uma Bharti to appear before a special CBI court in Lucknow today

CBI court to frame charges against the accused leaders in the Babri demolition case
On 19 April, the SC ordered a day-to-day trial to be concluded within two years

Yogi to Meet Advani, Joshi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will meet senior leaders Advani and Joshi ahead of their hearing today, says Times Now.

Joshi, Advani Leave for Lucknow

Senior BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani have left Delhi to appear before a special CBI court today in Lucknow.

Yogi to Meet LK Advani, Joshi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will meet senior leaders Advani and Joshi ahead of their hearing today, say reports.

The CM is also slated to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday.

Joshi, Advani Leave for Lucknow

Senior BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani have left Delhi to appear before a special CBI court today in Lucknow.

Supreme Court Hearing Two Separate Cases

BJP stalwarts LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Uma Bharti will appear before a special CBI court in Lucknow on Tuesday for framing of charges in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

Besides them, Special CBI judge SK Yadav had asked BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, VHP's Vishnu Hari Dalmia and a one-time firebrand Hindutva preacher Sadhvi Ritambara to present themselves before the court in person.

While directing the accused to present themselves in person, the judge had said no application for adjournment or exemption from personal appearance shall be entertained.

The court, which is hearing two separate cases relating to the demolition of the Babri masjid, would also frame charges against Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti, Baikunth Lal Sharma alias Prem Ji, Champat Rai Bansal, Mahant Dharma Das and Satish Pradhan in the second matter.

Trial to Be Concluded in Two Years

The Supreme Court had on 19 April ordered the prosecution of Advani (89), Joshi (83), Bharti (58), and other accused for criminal conspiracy in the politically sensitive case. It had also ordered the day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years.

The top court had called the destruction of the medieval-era monument a "crime" which shook the "secular fabric of the Constitution" while allowing the CBI's plea seeking restoration of criminal conspiracy charge against the four BJP leaders, including Katiyar, and others.

However, the Supreme Court had said BJP leader Kalyan Singh, who is the Rajasthan Governor and during whose tenure as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the disputed structure was razed, is entitled to immunity under the Constitution as long as he holds the gubernatorial office.

It had transferred the case against Advani, Joshi, Bharti and three other accused from a Raebareli court to Lucknow for a joint trial in the demolition case.