Babri Masjid demolition trial: CBI court fixes Mar 24 for questioning accused

After the Supreme Court's strict direction in July, 2019 to complete the trial in nine months time, now the special CBI court has taken up the case and the 351st witness, the then CBI joint Director and chief investigator M Narayanan recorded his statement.

Though Narayanan recorded his statement way back, the cross examination by the counsel of the opposite side was completed on Friday.

It is to be mentioned here that Narayanan, who investigated the case as chief investigator, was the last witness on befalf of the CBI in the case, which was lodged by the Ramjanambhoomi police station SHO and Ramjamanbhoomi chowki in-charge on December 6,1992.

Special CBI judge (Ayodhya matter) S K Yadav will now record the statement of the 32 accused under section 313 of the CrPC from March 24.

On the first day, three accused VHP leader Champat Rai Bansal, Faizabad BJP MP Lallu Singh and Prakash Sharma have been sent summons to appear before the court to record their statements.

The accused in the case include former deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh and Sadhvi Ritambhara.

A total of 48 FIRs were registered in connection with the demolition in which CBI-CID investigated the matter and then it was handed over to the CBI. Later on May 31,2017 , CBI filed charge sheet against 49 accused, of whom 17 died pending trial.

It is expected that the judgement of the court is expected in the mid 2020 as the Supreme Court had last year directed the special judge to deliver its judgement in nine month.