Gulberg Society verdict: 24 convicted, 36 acquitted in second worst massacre of Gujarat 2002 riots

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Among those who have been convicted for murder are-Kailash Lalchand Dhobi, who has been absconding for the past three months and had been in jail since 2002, Yogendrasinh alias Lalo Mohansinh Shekhawat, Jayeshkumar alias Gabbar Madanlal Jinger, Krishna Kumar alias Krishna, Jayesh Ramji Parmar, Raju alias Mamo Ramavatar Tiwari, Naran Sitaram Tank alias Naran Channelwalo, Lakhansing alias Lakhiyo Lalubha Chudasama, Bharat alias Bharat Taili Shitalaprasad, Bharat Laxmansinh Goud Rajput and Dinesh Prabhudas Sharma.

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These 11 accused have been convicted under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 302 (murder), 153 (a) 1 (spreading communal disharmony), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 452 (tress passing) among others. The 13 convicts have been charged for attempt to murder (307), spreading religious enmity, communal disharmony, unlawful assembly, rioting among others.

Gulberg Society is the eighth case investigated by Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). With this judgment only Naroda Gam rioting case remains pending in which former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi are also co-accused. Both Kodnani, out of bail, and Bajrangi have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Naroda Patiya massacre.

Highlights | Gulberg Society verdict: 24 convicted, BJP leader acquitted along with 35 others

Among those who have been acquitted is police inspector K G Erda who was posted at Meghaninagar police station where the Gulberg Society is located. Erda was arraigned by the prosecution following complaints of victims during the proceedings. Earda was senior police inspector who had lodged the complaint and investigated the case for a brief time.

The court has also granted big relief to accused Shivcharan alias Jitendra alias Lallo Ramji Rai while stating that “he has been denied bail all throughout the trial and has been in judicial custody during the pendency of the trial. He was behind the bars since his arrest in 2002. The eight other accused who were behind the bars for nearly 14 years have been convicted. BJP corporator from Asarva Bipin Patel has been acquitted while ex Congress corporator Meghsinh Dhupsinh Chaudhary has also been acquitted. VHP member Atul Vaid has been convicted for lesser offence for want of evidence.