A new sting operation claims that the masjid was demolished in a planned operations involving a trained team.

Were senior leaders like LK Advani, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao in on the conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid in 1992? And contrary to the popular narrative was it demolished by a trained group of 38 persons armed with petrol bombs and grappling hooks?

A new sting operation carried out by Cobrapost, to be released later today, claims that top senior leaders in both the BJP and Congress were aware of a plan labeled Operation Janambhoomi' to demolish the 16th century mosque on 6 December 1992.

As part of the sting operation, a reporter posed as the author of the Ayodhya movement and travelled across the country to interview 23 persons who played a key role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement, a Times of India report said.

Among those interviewed as part of the sting operation include prominent names in the movement like Sadhavi Ritambhara, Jai Bhagwan Goel,Mahant Avaidyanath and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh.

The sting claims to have evidence that 'Operation Janambhoomi' assembled a team of 38 members of the Bajrang Dal, called the Laxman Sena, trained by former military officers, to deliberately bring down the masjid -- whose destruction was not, in fact, due to a spontaneous riot.

The plan armed the Laxman Sena grappling hooks and petrol bombs to bring the structure down, along with dynamite sticks as a back-up plan, reportedly said. The previous attempt in 1990 also planned the use of dynamite but failed when one of the members was caught with the explosives.

Those interviewed also claimed that the unsuccessful 1990 attempt and the resultant deaths in police shooting were welcomed by certain leaders who believed that unless some people died, the movement wouldn't pick up momentum.

Contrary to claims that a frenzied mob using basic implements managed to demolish the masjid, karsevak Jai bhan Singh Paweya tells Cobrapost that petrol bombs were used and one of them was allegedly planted by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

A number of leaders interviewed by Cobrapost like Vinay Katiyar claim that then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao also played a 'supportive role'. The report also claims Chief Minister Kalyan Singh knew about the demolition a day earlier and was kept captive on 6 December 1992 to prevent him from going ahead with his plan of resigning as the demolition began.

The findings of the sting operation are expected to cause some embarassment for the BJP and its top leadership just days ahead of polling. While LK Advani was the face of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi participated in the cause as Advani's protege. However, the veteran leader, who has been battling for relevance in the party in this elections, may be far worse hit than his former acolyte.

In an election where the BJP has been attempting to woo minorities, the allegations if proved accurate will be greatly damaging. It could also affect the party's standing in the state of Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state in its planned path to victory, and other minority dominated seats. How the BJP leadership and its opponents react to the allegations will provide a final twist in the tale ahead of an already unpredictable election.