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Naroda Patiya riot case: Gujarat High Court acquits Maya Kodnani, upholds Babu Bajrangi's conviction

Naroda Patiya riot case: Gujarat High Court acquits Maya Kodnani, upholds Babu Bajrangi's conviction

Maya Kodnani

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Kodnani was charged with heading the riots at Naroda Patiya where 97 people were killed

Gujarat High Court on Friday upheld the life imprisonment awarded to Babu Bajrangi. However, the court acquitted former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, currently out of jail on bail.

A division bench of Justices Harsha Devani and AS Supehiya had reserved the order last August after the hearing concluded in 11 appeal petitions including four by Supreme Court appointed-Special Investigation Team (SIT).

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In August 2012, a special court for SIT cases had sentenced 32 people, including DrKodnani and Bajrangi to life imprisonment. While Dr Maya Kodnani was sentenced to 28 years of imprisonment, Bajrangi was awarded life imprisonment till death. The trial court had also acquitted 29 other accused for want of evidence.

Out of the 32 convicts in the case, the High court today acquitted 17 people and upheld the conviction of 12. The verdict on two others is awaited. One of the accused in the case is dead.

The High Court also rejected the plea of Naroda Patiya riot victims who were seeking compensation.

Around 58 people lost their lives when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was torched at the Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002.

Following the incident, on February 28 the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal declared Gujarat Bandh. A total of 97 people were killed by rioters in Ahmedabad's Naroda Patiya area on this day.