Gyanvapi Judge Who Ordered Videography Of Varanasi Mosque Receive Death Threats

Additional Session Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, known for ordering a videography survey of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque complex in 2022, has informed the Uttar Pradesh police about receiving “malicious calls and death threats from international numbers,” as per a Times of India report. Diwakar expressed deep concern over these threats.

Following previous threat concerns, the Allahabad High Court had sanctioned Y-category security for Judge Diwakar and his family, which was later downgraded to X-category. Presently, two security personnel are deployed for the safety of his family, but according to an associate, this arrangement is deemed inadequate due to a lack of weaponry compared to potential threats armed with modern weapons.

Last year, a Popular Front of India (PFI) agent was arrested near Diwakar’s residence in Lucknow, prompting security measures including stationing a gunner at the residence of Justice Diwakar’s brother, Dinesh Kumar Diwakar, who is also an additional district judge. However, this security cover was later withdrawn during the Lok Sabha elections.

Recently transferred to Bareilly, Diwakar had summoned senior cleric Tauqeer Raza to face trial for allegedly masterminding the Bareilly riots case of 2018, which he had taken suo motu cognizance of.