After the ASI report, the Chief Priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi pilgrimage site, Acharya Satyendra Das, on January 28 appealed to Muslims to hand over the knowledge-gaining mosque to Hindus. He also claimed that, according to Sharia, Muslims cannot pray in a mosque built on a Hindu structure. "According to Sharia, Muslims cannot pray in a mosque built on a Hindu structure. Once it is established that this mosque was built on a temple, they should hand over the knowledgeable mosque to Hindus. In this way, brotherhood will be maintained... Hindus will build a temple and start worshiping their deity... I urge the Muslim community not to get involved in the provocations of some people... Our mutual relationships will remain intact, and brotherhood will persist," said Acharya Satyendra Das. The ASI survey of the knowledge-gaining mosque premises revealed that the structure existing from the 17th century was demolished, and "some parts were modified and reused," based on scientific studies, it can be said that "there was a large Hindu temple before the construction of the existing structure." ASI also said that "the western wall of the existing structure is the remaining part of a Hindu temple already present." The survey of the knowledge-gaining mosque complex began when the Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition by Muslim litigants seeking to stop the ASI's scientific survey on the orders of the Varanasi court.