The Gujarat High Court on Friday sensationally acquitted former BJP minister in Narendra Modi government in the state, Maya Kodnani, in 2002 Gujarat genocide case. She was sentenced to life by a trial court for inciting the mob to avenge the the burning of train in Godhra.
The High Court found Babu Bajrangi guilty and upheld his conviction. Suresh Langado alias Richard Chhara was also found guilty. Kodnani’s personal assistant, Kirpal Singh Chabda, who was convicted by the trial court was also acquitted.
Gujarat High Court bench comprising Justices Harsha Devani and AS Supehia also rejected the appeal for compensation by the victims’ families. This despite the Supreme Court SIT making a written submission how Kodnani was a kingpin of the 2002 anti-Muslim massacre, where more than 1200 people were killed. Kodnani, according to the SIT had made a speech in which she said: “Kill Muslims, destroy the property of Muslims”. Witnesses even told the court that Kodnani distributed swords to rioters, urging them to attack Muslims and at one point fired a pistol.
Both Kodnani and Bajrangi were on indefinite bail thereby making a mockery of the judicial impartiality in the state. More than 100 Muslims were killed in Naroda Patiya over the period of three days.
Kodnani has been on bail since 2014 on the ground that she has been unwell. She is also accused of riots in Naroda Gram neighbourhood, where 11 Muslims were killed the same. Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat then.
