Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in Mankote sector of J&K's Poonch, Indian Army retaliates befittingly

A special CBI court hearing the Babri mosque demolition case will pronounce its judgment on Wednesday (September 30, 2020). Judge SK Yadav has directed all accused to remain present when a special court delivers judgement in the demolition case. Prominent among the 32 accused are former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and BJP leaders MM Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar and Sadhvi Rithambara. Follow Zee News live blog for all news updates.

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NEW DELHI: Nearly twenty-eight years after the Babri Masjid was demolished, the Special CBI court on Wednesday (September 30, 2020) acquitted all 32 accused in the case, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti. The accused were acquitted citing "lack of evidence'' against them for hatching the alleged conspiracy. The court also observed that the 1992 demolition was not "pre-planned."

Meanwhile, India's Covid-19 tally crossed the 61-lakh mark on Tuesday with a spike of 70,589 new cases and 776 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The country's Covid count stands at 61,45,292 including 9,47,576 active cases, according to the Union health ministry. 

Among other news, US President Donald Trump has defended his response to the coronavirus pandemic, calling it a China's fault adding that he had received praise from governors for doing a "phenomenal job."

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30 September 2020

23:25 IST

ECI team led by CEC Sunil Arora, ECs Sushil Chandra and Sh Rajiv Kumar holds review meeting with local administration officers at Patna for preparedness of Bihar Assembly elections. Commission also unveils SVEEP publications @CEOBihar @rajeevkumr @PIB_Patna pic.twitter.com/VE1IZ7barB

— Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) September 30, 2020

23:08 IST

3,590 #COVID cases detected out of 1,48,780 tests. Total number of cases stand at 1,80,811 including 1,43,999 discharges, 36,112 active cases and 697 deaths: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. pic.twitter.com/nVjAoYENYD

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2020

22:30 IST

MHA issues new guidelines for re-opening of more activities outside COVID-19 containment zones. 

MHA issues new guidelines for re-opening; gives flexibility to States/UTs for opening of schools

Cinemas/ theatres/multiplexes outside the containment zones, permitted to open with upto 50% of seating capacity from October 15

(1/4)

Details: https://t.co/0FsSFa5D74 pic.twitter.com/N0mE6DOVnS

— PIB India (@PIB_India) September 30, 2020

19:36 IST

Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Mankote sector of Poonch district today. Indian Army is retaliating. 

#Pak continuously violating ceasefire along #LoC. Today #Pak initiated small arms firing & shelling with #Mortars in #Mankote sector, Distt Poonch (J&K).#IndianArmy retaliates befittingly.@SpokespersonMoD@DefenceMinIndia@adgpi @diprjk@ddnews_jammu@PTI_News @ANI@dcpoonch

— PRO Defence Jammu (@prodefencejammu) September 30, 2020

18:57 IST

Andhra Pradesh: State reports 6,133 new cases and 48 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases jump to 6,93,484, including 6,29,211 recoveries, 58,445 active cases and 5,828 deaths.

Andhra Pradesh reported 6,133 new #COVID19 cases, 7,075 recoveries & 48 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking total positive cases to 6,93,484, including 6,29,211 recoveries, 58,445 active cases & 5,828 deaths: State Health Department pic.twitter.com/iH3lF9otf2

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2020

16:51 IST

Central Board of Direct Taxes further extends the due date for furnishing of the belated and revised Income tax returns for the assessment year 2019-20 from September 30, 2020, to November 30, 2020.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) further extends the due date for furnishing of belated & revised ITRs (Income tax return) for assessment yr 2019-20 from 30th September 2020 to 30th November 2020 pic.twitter.com/XrD4CsBbBN

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2020

16:46 IST

Haryana: Police have seized 15,000 banned medicines and arrested two persons who were in possession of the drugs, in Fatehabad district. They have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act; further investigation underway. (With ANI inputs)

16:46 IST

The victim died yesterday in Delhi. After the post-mortem, the funeral was conducted with the consent of the family members & in their presence as the body was putrefying. The details of the examination will soon be out and shared: Prashant Kumar, UP ADG, on the Hathras gang rape pic.twitter.com/zxG53vxY6n

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2020

13:29 IST

UP CM Yogi Adityanath welcomes verdict, says justice has won. He says the court verdict makes it clear that it was the then Congress government, which indulged in vote bank politics to defame the country's revered saints, BJP, senior officials associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and various other social organisations.

13:28 IST

It's a historic decision by the court. This proves that no conspiracy was hatched for December 6 incident in Ayodhya. Our program and rallies were not part of any conspiracy. We are happy, everyone should now be excited about Ram Mandir's construction, says Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP

12:32 IST

The CBI court also stated that Hindu outfit VHP had played no role in the demolition of the Babri Mosque. 

12:24 IST

All accused acquitted as the CBI Court says incident was not pre-planned, evidences not strong

12:23 IST

Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das attend proceedings via video conferencing as the CBI court is due to announce verdict in Babri Masjid demolition case shortly

12:22 IST

Special CBI Judge SK Yadav has begun reading judgement in the case.

11:49 IST

Cops deployed outside the CBI court are allowing the accused entry inside the court after verifying their details. Their supporters have been stopped at the barricades itself. Mediapersons have not been allowed to enter the court building.

11:41 IST

The Ayodhya mosque was demolished on December 6, 1992 by ‘kar sevaks’ who claimed that it was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple. Following this, two cases were filed in Ayodhya: one related to the conspiracy of the demolition, and another instigation of the crowd. The remaining cases were merged with the conspiracy FIR. While the trial in the conspiracy case was being held in a Lucknow court, the hearing of the case involving alleged instigation of the ‘kar sevaks’ was being held at a Rae Bareli court. On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court clubbed both the cases and set up a special court (Ayodhya Prakaran) in Lucknow to conclude the hearing.

11:41 IST

During the trial, the court examined 354 prosecution witnesses. Of the total 49 accused booked in the case, 17 have died. 

11:02 IST

Security has been tightened around Special CBI court. The court will pronounce its verdict shortly in Babri Masjid demolition case.

11:01 IST

Sadhvi Ritambra, Sakshi Maharaj and Champat Rai, accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, have also reached the Special CBI court in Lucknow.

10:55 IST

Waiting for the court's verdict on the Babri demolition case. There is no importance of the case once the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan was done in August, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

10:53 IST

Vinay Katiyar and Ram Vilas Vedanti, accused in Babri Masjid demolition case, arrive in the Special CBI court in Lucknow for the hearing today.

10:52 IST

Special CBI Judge SK Yadav has arrived in the court, to deliver verdict in the case shortly.

10:41 IST

The remaining 26 accused had reached the CBI court around 10 AM and will depose before judge Surendra Kumar Yadav as soon as he reaches the courtroom.

10:41 IST

All the 32 accused are facing charges under several sections of the IPC, including criminal conspiracy, rioting, promoting enmity between different groups and unlawful assembly.

10:40 IST

Twenty-six of the 32 accused in the case are likely to be present in the court when the verdict is delivered, say reports.

10:37 IST

Shiv Sena leader Satish Pradhan and chairman of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das are also unlikely to be present in the court.

10:37 IST

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti are most likely not be present in court due to health reasons when the verdict is delivered.

10:36 IST

Extra police force has been kept in reserve in Lucknow and other sensitive districts including Ayodhya.

10:36 IST

The officials said all district police chiefs have been asked to keep the force vigilant and in alert mode to counter any type of law and order situation that may arise after the verdict. 

10:34 IST

The UP police have issued a high alert across the state in view of the verdict, in the Babri mosque demolition case, to be delivered by the special CBI court (Ayodhya case) in Lucknow today.

10:33 IST

Meanwhile, a total of 7,41,96,729 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to 29th September. Of these, 10,86,688 samples were tested yesterday: ICMR.