Gulberg Society verdict: 24 convicted, BJP leader Bipin Patel acquitted along with 35 others

The case has seen several ups and downs during the trial. P B Desai, who pronounced the verdict, was the fourth judge who presided over the trial. The previous judges had concluded the hearing, but couldn’t pronounce the judgment due to Supreme Court’s stay and also superannuation. The current judge took over the trial in November 2014 and concluded the final arguments in September 2015.

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM GULBERG SOCIETY VERDICT

3.05 pm: Zakia Jafri, widow of ex-Congress MP Ahsan Jafri said she was prayed on Wedesday night and was heartbroken to hear the verdict. “We prayed thinking the verdict would be in our favour. But when I watched on TV that 36 had been acquitted and 24 convicted, my heart broke. We are all unhappy with this judgment. There might have been something wanting in the police investigations”.

3.00 pm: Chief of the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) R K Raghavan reacted to the judgment saying, “We have a mixed feeling on the judgment. But overall we are happy with the conviction. We will decide out next move once we get the copy of the judgment.”

After pronouncement of judgment advocate SM Vora, who represented victims in the case, said, “We are happy with the judgment. We will challenge the acquittal of 36 people in the high court.”

1:30 pm: Yes, we will appeal against the verdict in higher courts, Ehsan Jafri’s widow tells ANI. Read story here

12 noon: Police officer KG Erda has been acquitted.

11:45 am: Quantum of punishment to be pronounced on June 6.

11:39 am: BREAKING – 24 accused convicted by special court. 36 others have been acquitted.

11:30 am: 59 out of the total 66 accused are present at the court. Six people have died and one is absconding for past three months.

11:20 am: Special court packed with accused, lawyers and journalists awaiting judgment

Gulberg society under tight security as the verdict is awaited #gulbergverdict @IndianExpress @lynnmis pic.twitter.com/ZVFjRz0dr2

— Ritu Sharma (@2ritusharma) June 2, 2016

10:50 am: There’s massive security outside the court premises.

10:45 am: Accused and their kin shout ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram’ outside the court premises, reports Satish Jha from Ahmedabad.

10:40 am:

#GulbergVerdict: Ex #Godhra BJP MLA Haresh Bhatt hugs accused Atul Vaidya at court @IndianExpress @lynnmis pic.twitter.com/fwTVWVxEBV

— satish jha (@satishjha) June 2, 2016

10:25 am:

#GulbergVerdict: #BJP corporator and accused Bipin Patel reaches court for judgment @IndianExpress @lynnmis pic.twitter.com/zozEIUUIcs

— satish jha (@satishjha) June 2, 2016

10:20 am:

#GodhraRiots: Atul Vaidya (specs) accused in #GulbergSociety massacre arrives for verdict @IndianExpress @lynnmis pic.twitter.com/aDTkjyMZ80

— satish jha (@satishjha) June 2, 2016