Judge who ordered Gyanvapi survey gets threats from 'international numbers'

Additional sessions judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who shot into the limelight after ordering a videographic survey of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque complex in 2022, has lodged a complaint with police about receiving "malicious calls" and "death threats from international numbers".

In his letter to the Bareilly Superintendent of Police, Justice Diwakar claimed he received a call from an international number on April 15 and received a death threat. Another similar call was received days later.

Justice Diwakar, who has recently been transferred to Bareilly, had previously also flagged that he and his family had received threats. The judge has sought an investigation into the matter.

After being transferred to Bareilly, Justice Diwakar initiated suo motu action in the 2018 Bareilly riots case. He had ordered Maulana Tauqeer Raza to face trial for being the alleged mastermind in the 2018 Bareilly riots.

In the riots, property worth crores of rupees was destroyed, and a curfew was imposed in Bareilly for 27 days.

Justice Diwakar started receiving threats soon after he ordered a video survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque, which is located adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, in April 2022. He had also ordered sealing of the wuzu khana (ablution area) inside the mosque complex.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered Y-category security for him and his family after the judge raised concern over the threats. However, it was later reduced to X category.

The judge's current security detail includes two security personnel. One of his colleagues said it was not adequate as both the personnel were not equipped with weapons.