Babri case: L K Advani deposes before CBI court

New Delhi, July 24: Veteran BJP leader L K Advani recorded his statement in the Babri mosque demolition case. The 92-year-old, named among the accused in the case related to the razing of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya appeared before a special CBI court in Lucknow via video link.

On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Advani. The two leaders spoke for around 30 minutes.

The hearing will take places just days before a grand groundbreaking event planned on August 5 for a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Reports suggested frontline leader of Ram temple movement including Advani will be invited.

The 16th century Babri Masjid was pulled down on December 6, 1992, by Hindu activists who believed it was built on the ruins of an ancient temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati are among the BJP leaders accused of conspiracy. Joshi, 86, recorded his statement before the court on Thursday through video conference and called the prosecution witnesses in the case as "liars".

"The entire investigation was conducted under the political influence and he was charged on the basis of false and fabricated evidence," Joshi told the court.

The court is recording the statements of as many as 32 accused in the case after examination of the prosecution witnesses.