Lucknow, March 25 (IANS) Anju Gupta, a police officer who had told investigators that senior BJP leaders, including L.K. Advani, were euphoric after the 1992 Babri Masjid razing, will depose Friday before a special court hearing the 18-year-old demolition case.
Gupta, a deputy inspector general of police (DIG), is currently attached to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of the Cabinet Secretariat. Her deposition before the Rae Bareli-based special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Friday will be recorded.

Gupta was posted as assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the time of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. She had first shot to fame when she said in a statement before CBI investigators that top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti were euphoric after the demolition.

The special court is holding trial of Advani and eight others in the case.

The 16th century mosque, built by Mughal emperor Babur, was razed Dec 6, 1992, by violent mobs of Hindu karsewaks who claimed the mosque was erected at the site of an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Gupta’s statement was a pointer to the alleged conspiracy believed to have been hatched by BJP leaders and their Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) allies to bring down the mosque.

The special CBI court at Rae Bareli had earlier discharged Advani on the plea that charges against him were based on mere suspicion. This followed dropping of the serious charge of criminal conspiracy under Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by CBI on the directives of the Allahabad High Court.

The revised chargesheet contained relatively milder sections under the Indian Penal Code - Sections 153-A, 153-B (propagating communal violence), 147, 149 (rioting) and 505 (spreading ill-will).