"The report in four volumes with an extensive set of annexure will now be further processed by the Home Ministry," the PMO said. The report of the Commission of Enquiry, which was set up 17 years ago to probe the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid incident, was submitted to the Prime Minister by Retd Justice M S Liberhan in the presence of Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Chidambaram, when approached by reporters, said that he has not read the report. He hoped that the report would be forwarded to the Home Ministry during the course of the day.

The contents of the report were not immediately known. "I am independent today," is what Justice Liberhan said after submitting the report.

Refusing to divulge anything about the report, he said, "I have submitted the report to the Prime Minister. There are various things that I have reported in my report. You can read it when the report is released."

Asked why the Commission, which had got 48 extensions, took so much time to prepare its report, Justice Liberhan blamed it on the court stay order, "procuring witness, and non-cooperative attitude" of some people.

Liberhan said now the government will study the report and take action accordingly and then submit the report and action taken in the Parliament.

Stating that the report is a "privilege" of the Parliament and hence he would not be able to specify if he has recommended any penal punishment, he said, "can't open my mouth for this. The report can speak when it comes out."

Asked how he felt after submitting the long awaited report, he said, "I am independent today." Set up within ten days of the demolition of the historic mosque on December six, 1992, which triggered widespread communal violence leading to heavy loss of lives, the panel has become the country's longest serving Commission of Enquiry.

The Commission, mandated to inquire into the circumstances leading to the demolition of the Babri mosque, was to submit its report by March 16, 1993 but sought repeated extensions to complete its probe.