Naroda Gam massacre case: Court acquits former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, 66 other accused
The verdict by special judge Shubhada Baxi was pronounced around 5.30 pm and welcomed outside the court by chants of “Jai Shree Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by the relatives of the accused
Former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani outside the court in Ahmedabad after being acquitted in the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case. (Express Photo: Nirmal Harindran) A special SIT court in Ahmedabad Thursday acquitted all 67 accused, including former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, ex-Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Jaydeep Patel, in the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case where 11 members of a minority community were killed during communal riots.
The verdict by special judge Shubhada Baxi was pronounced around 5.30 pm and welcomed outside the court by chants of “Jai Shree Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by the relatives of the accused.
The specially designated court, constituted for speedy trial of the 2002 Gujarat riot cases, had concluded the proceedings on April 5. While 86 accused were chargesheeted for trial in the case, 18 were abated and one discharged, leaving 67 accused to face trial. On Thursday, of the 67 accused, 65 were present in the courtroom.
Relatives of those acquitted celebrate outside the court in Ahmedabad on Thursday. (Express Photo)
Special public prosecutor Gaurang Vyas told the Indian Express that the prosecution shall apply for the verdict copy on Saturday and will send it to the state’s legal department which shall decide whether to appeal against the verdict or not.
A trial court had convicted both Kodnani and Bajrangi in the Naroda Patiya case and sentenced them to life imprisonment. However, the Gujarat High Court had overturned Kodnani’s conviction, acquitting her, and had upheld Bajrangi’s conviction in the Naroda Patiya case in 2018.
The Naroda Gam case was among the nine major riots in Gujarat following the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra on February 27, 2002, in which a speedy day-to-day trial was ordered. The trials were committed to designated courts, and monitored by the Supreme Court — yet the Naroda Gam case has taken years to reach a verdict.
The verdict was welcomed by chants of “Jai Shree Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by the relatives of the accused. (Express Photo)
On February 28, 2002, 11 Muslims were burnt to death after mobs set their houses on fire in a locality known as Muslim Maholla, Kumbhar Vas, in the Naroda Gam area of Ahmedabad. An FIR was registered at the Naroda police station.
The report of the Justice Nanavati Commission that investigated the Gujarat riots, noted the statements of witnesses that “there was no police help received by the Muslims and they were simply at the mercy of the miscreants”, and that police help arrived only in the evening. However, several police officials deposed before the Commission that they were not able to reach Naroda Gam because they were managing the more serious situation at Naroda Patiya, which was unfolding at the same time.
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