The destruction of the 16th century Babri Masjid by Hindu fanatics in the northern town of Ayodhya triggered some of the worst communal violence since the partition of the Indian sub continent in 1947. Around 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were killed in the riots, which left an enormous tear in India’s secular fabric and permanently tarnished 82-year-old Advani and fellow figures from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to the Press Trust of India, police officer Anju Gupta, who was Advani’s personal guard at the time of the demolition, told a court in Rae Bareli town that Advani had made a “provocative speech” to right wing Hindus in Ayodhya on the day the mosque was attacked.

“Advani not only looked euphoric but also declared before the huge crowds at Ayodhya on Dec. 6, 1992 that the Ram temple would be built at the disputed site in the temple town,” she said during her two-and-a-half-hour testimony. Advani, Gupta said,  “delivered quite a provocative speech for which he was applauded by his other party colleagues and the crowds.

She explained: “There were at least 100 persons present on the dais along with Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharati, Sadhvi Rithambara, Ashok Singhal, S.C. Dikshit, and I remember their faces so distinctly that I would be able to still recognize at least 80 of them.”

“There was so much excitement among the crowds that they distributed sweets after the mosque was pulled down,” she added while giving testimony.

Advani has denied involvement in the demolition calling it “the saddest day” of his life. In 2003, Advani, who served as home minister and deputy prime minister under the BJP led government between 1998 and 2004, was cleared of his alleged links to the demolition.

In New Delhi, the BJP refused to comment. “The BJP won’t comment on that,” BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovind said.